CVE-2025-59470 is a critical vulnerability identified in Veeam Backup and Recovery version 13.0.0 that enables remote code execution (RCE) as the postgres user. The flaw arises from improper validation or sanitization of the 'interval' or 'order' parameters within the backup software, which a user with Backup Operator privileges can manipulate to execute arbitrary commands remotely. The postgres user typically has elevated database privileges, so exploitation can lead to significant compromise of backup data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have Backup Operator privileges, which is a high privilege level but does not require additional user interaction, making exploitation straightforward once access is obtained. The CVSS 3.1 score of 9.0 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L) indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, scope changed, and high impact on confidentiality and integrity with limited availability impact. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the critical nature of this vulnerability demands urgent attention. The vulnerability was reserved in September 2025 and published in January 2026, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. Veeam Backup and Recovery is widely used in enterprise environments for data protection, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on this product for backup and recovery operations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of backup data, which is critical for business continuity and disaster recovery. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker with Backup Operator privileges to execute arbitrary code as the postgres user, potentially leading to data theft, manipulation, or destruction of backup data. This could disrupt recovery processes and cause extended downtime or data loss. Given the widespread use of Veeam Backup and Recovery across various sectors including finance, healthcare, and government in Europe, the impact could be severe. Organizations with stringent data protection regulations such as GDPR could face compliance violations and reputational damage if backup data is compromised. The limited availability impact suggests that while backups might remain accessible, their trustworthiness and integrity could be undermined, complicating incident response and recovery efforts.

European organizations should immediately verify if they are running Veeam Backup and Recovery version 13.0.0 and prioritize upgrading to a patched version once available. In the absence of a patch, restrict Backup Operator privileges strictly to trusted personnel and implement strong access controls and monitoring on accounts with these privileges. Employ network segmentation to limit exposure of backup infrastructure to untrusted networks. Enable detailed logging and alerting on backup operations to detect anomalous parameter usage or suspicious activities. Conduct regular audits of backup configurations and user privileges. Consider deploying application-layer firewalls or intrusion detection systems to monitor and block malicious payloads targeting the vulnerable parameters. Additionally, organizations should review their incident response plans to include scenarios involving backup system compromise and ensure backups are tested for integrity regularly. Coordination with Veeam support and subscribing to their security advisories will help maintain awareness of patches and mitigations.