CVE-2025-59454 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor) found in the Apache CloudStack platform, specifically affecting versions from 4.0.0 up to 4.21.0. The issue arises from insufficient permission validation in several key CloudStack APIs: createNetworkACL, listNetworkACLs, listResourceDetails, listVirtualMachinesUsageHistory, and listVolumesUsageHistory. Although these APIs are designed to be accessible only by authorized users, the flawed access control checks occasionally allow users to retrieve information beyond their authorization scope. This results in unauthorized exposure of sensitive data related to network ACLs, resource details, virtual machine usage history, and volume usage history. The vulnerability does not affect the integrity or availability of the system but compromises confidentiality. Exploitation requires network access and at least low-level privileges (PR:L), but no user interaction is needed (UI:N). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3, reflecting a medium severity level. No public exploits have been reported to date. The Apache Software Foundation has addressed this issue in CloudStack versions 4.20.2.0 and 4.22.0.0, recommending users upgrade to these versions to mitigate the risk. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for organizations relying on Apache CloudStack for cloud infrastructure management, as unauthorized data exposure can lead to information leakage that may facilitate further attacks or violate data protection regulations.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-59454 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive operational data managed within Apache CloudStack environments. This could include details about network access control lists, resource inventories, and usage histories of virtual machines and storage volumes. Such information leakage may aid attackers in reconnaissance activities, enabling them to map network configurations and resource usage patterns, which could be leveraged in subsequent targeted attacks. Additionally, exposure of usage history and resource details may violate GDPR and other data protection regulations if personal or sensitive data is indirectly disclosed, potentially leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach itself is significant, especially for cloud service providers, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure operators in Europe that rely on Apache CloudStack. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the ease of exploitation (low privileges required, no user interaction) means that threat actors with limited access could exploit this flaw if unpatched.

European organizations using Apache CloudStack should promptly upgrade affected instances to versions 4.20.2.0 or 4.22.0.0 where the vulnerability is fixed. Beyond patching, organizations should audit user permissions and roles within CloudStack to ensure the principle of least privilege is enforced, minimizing the number of users with access to sensitive APIs. Implement strict network segmentation and access controls to limit which users and systems can reach CloudStack management interfaces. Enable detailed logging and monitoring of API calls related to network ACLs and resource usage to detect anomalous access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on cloud management platforms to identify potential access control weaknesses. Additionally, review compliance with GDPR and other relevant data protection laws to ensure that any data exposure risks are mitigated through contractual and technical controls. Finally, maintain awareness of Apache CloudStack security advisories for timely updates on emerging threats or patches.