CVE-2025-59292 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-73 (External Control of File Name or Path) affecting Microsoft Azure Compute Gallery, specifically within Confidential Azure Container Instances. This vulnerability allows an attacker who already has authorized access with high privileges to manipulate file names or paths externally, leading to local privilege escalation. The flaw arises from insufficient validation or sanitization of file path inputs, enabling attackers to influence file system operations improperly. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with a scope change (S:C) indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially compromised component. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring the attacker to have high privileges (PR:H) and no user interaction (UI:N). Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for privilege escalation within cloud container environments, which are often used to isolate sensitive workloads. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate attention to mitigating controls. This vulnerability is particularly critical in environments using confidential computing features in Azure, where container isolation and security are paramount. The flaw could allow attackers to escape container boundaries or manipulate sensitive files, undermining the security guarantees of confidential computing.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-59292 is substantial, especially for those relying on Azure Compute Gallery and confidential container instances for sensitive or regulated workloads. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation, enabling attackers to access or modify sensitive data, disrupt services, or move laterally within cloud environments. This compromises data confidentiality and integrity, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The availability of critical services hosted in Azure containers could also be affected, leading to operational disruptions. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, which heavily use confidential computing for data protection, face heightened risks. The vulnerability could also undermine trust in cloud service providers and increase compliance burdens. Given the high privileges required, the threat is more relevant to insiders or attackers who have already breached initial defenses, emphasizing the need for robust internal security controls.

1. Implement strict role-based access control (RBAC) to limit who can access and manage Azure Compute Gallery and confidential container instances, minimizing the number of users with high privileges. 2. Monitor and audit file system operations and path manipulations within container environments to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 3. Employ Azure Security Center and other cloud-native security tools to enforce security policies and detect suspicious activities related to file path handling. 4. Isolate sensitive workloads using additional container security mechanisms such as AppArmor or SELinux profiles where possible. 5. Regularly review and harden container configurations to reduce attack surface, including disabling unnecessary features that could be exploited. 6. Stay informed on Microsoft’s security advisories and apply patches or updates promptly once available. 7. Conduct internal penetration testing and vulnerability assessments focusing on container environments to identify potential exploitation paths. 8. Educate administrators and developers on secure coding and configuration practices related to file path handling in cloud containers.