CVE-2025-59302 is a code injection vulnerability classified under CWE-94 affecting Apache CloudStack, an open-source cloud computing software platform widely used for deploying and managing large networks of virtual machines. The vulnerability resides in several administrative APIs—quotaTariffCreate, quotaTariffUpdate, createSecondaryStorageSelector, updateSecondaryStorageSelector, updateHost, and updateStorage—that improperly handle the generation and interpretation of JavaScript code. These APIs allow administrators to submit JavaScript expressions which, due to insufficient validation and control, can be manipulated to execute arbitrary code within the CloudStack management server context. The flaw affects versions from 4.18.0 up to but not including 4.20.2, and from 4.21.0 up to but not including 4.22.0. Exploitation requires administrative privileges, limiting the attack surface to trusted users or compromised admin accounts. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent, as attackers with admin access could execute unauthorized code, potentially altering configurations or disrupting services. The Apache Software Foundation fixed the issue by introducing a global configuration flag, js.interpretation.enabled, which allows administrators to enable or disable JavaScript expression interpretation in these APIs, effectively mitigating the injection risk. Users are strongly recommended to upgrade to versions 4.20.2 or 4.22.0 where the fix is implemented. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported to date.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-59302 depends largely on the deployment scale and criticality of Apache CloudStack within their infrastructure. Organizations using affected versions and granting administrative API access could face risks of unauthorized code execution, potentially leading to configuration tampering, data leakage, or service disruption. Although exploitation requires admin privileges, insider threats or compromised admin credentials could be leveraged by attackers. This vulnerability could undermine trust in cloud management platforms, disrupt cloud service availability, and expose sensitive operational data. Given the reliance on cloud orchestration in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government across Europe, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often target vulnerabilities with administrative access requirements in cloud environments. Failure to patch could result in targeted attacks against critical cloud infrastructure, impacting business continuity and regulatory compliance under GDPR and other European data protection laws.

European organizations should take the following specific steps to mitigate CVE-2025-59302: 1) Immediately identify all Apache CloudStack instances running affected versions (4.18.0 to before 4.20.2 and 4.21.0 to before 4.22.0). 2) Upgrade these instances to the patched versions 4.20.2 or 4.22.0 without delay to apply the official fix. 3) Until upgrades are completed, disable JavaScript expression interpretation by setting the global configuration flag js.interpretation.enabled to false to prevent code injection. 4) Restrict administrative API access strictly to trusted personnel and enforce strong multi-factor authentication to reduce risk of credential compromise. 5) Conduct audits of administrative API usage logs to detect any anomalous or unauthorized activity. 6) Implement network segmentation to isolate CloudStack management servers from less trusted networks. 7) Regularly review and update CloudStack configurations and permissions to follow the principle of least privilege. 8) Monitor security advisories from Apache and related threat intelligence sources for any emerging exploit activity. These targeted actions go beyond generic patching advice by emphasizing configuration controls, access restrictions, and proactive monitoring tailored to the vulnerability’s characteristics.