CVE-2025-59453 is a vulnerability identified in Click Studios Passwordstate, a widely used password management solution, specifically affecting versions prior to 9.9 Build 9972. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-669, which pertains to Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres. This flaw allows an attacker to bypass authentication controls related to the Passwordstate Emergency Access feature. By crafting a specific URL and accessing the Emergency Access web page, an unauthorized user can gain access to the Passwordstate Administration section without proper credentials. This bypass does not require prior authentication or user interaction, but it does require local access (AV:L - Attack Vector: Local) and has a high attack complexity (AC:H), meaning exploitation is not trivial and likely requires some level of access or conditions to be met. The vulnerability impacts the integrity of the system by allowing unauthorized administrative access, but it does not directly compromise confidentiality or availability. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.2, indicating a low severity level, primarily due to the local attack vector and high complexity. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability's root cause lies in improper handling of resource transfers between security domains within the application, specifically in the Emergency Access functionality, which is intended to provide emergency administrative access but is improperly secured, allowing bypass via URL manipulation.

For European organizations using Passwordstate, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized administrative access to their password management system if an attacker gains local access to the network or system hosting Passwordstate. While the attack complexity is high and requires local access, the impact on integrity is significant because an attacker with administrative access can alter stored credentials, potentially leading to further compromise of critical systems. Although confidentiality and availability are not directly impacted by this vulnerability, the integrity breach could cascade into broader security incidents, including unauthorized disclosure or denial of service through credential manipulation. Organizations with strict regulatory requirements around credential management and data protection (e.g., GDPR) may face compliance risks if such unauthorized access occurs. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the presence of this vulnerability in a critical security tool warrants prompt attention.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading Passwordstate to version 9.9 Build 9972 or later once patches are available. Until then, organizations should restrict local access to systems hosting Passwordstate, ensuring only trusted administrators can reach the Emergency Access web page. Network segmentation and strict access controls should be enforced to limit exposure. Monitoring and logging access to the Emergency Access page should be enhanced to detect any suspicious URL access patterns. Additionally, organizations should review and tighten Emergency Access policies, possibly disabling this feature temporarily if operationally feasible. Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for administrative access and conducting regular audits of administrative activities within Passwordstate can further reduce risk. Finally, organizations should prepare incident response plans specific to credential management compromise scenarios.