CVE-2025-5964 is a high-severity vulnerability classified as CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as Path Traversal) affecting M-Files Server versions prior to 25.6.14925.0. The vulnerability exists in an API endpoint of the M-Files Server, a document management system widely used for enterprise content management. The flaw allows an authenticated user with limited privileges to manipulate file path parameters in API requests to access files outside the intended directory scope. This path traversal enables unauthorized reading of arbitrary files on the server file system, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, credentials, or other confidential data stored on the server. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond authentication but does require the attacker to have valid credentials with at least limited privileges (PR:L). The CVSS 4.0 base score is 8.4, reflecting a high impact on confidentiality (VC:H) with no impact on integrity or availability. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is high (SI:H), indicating that the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable component, potentially impacting the entire system. The vulnerability is currently published but has no known exploits in the wild. No patches or mitigation links are provided yet, indicating that organizations must be vigilant and apply updates once available. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to significant data breaches by exposing sensitive files, which is critical for organizations relying on M-Files Server for document management and compliance.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-5964 is significant due to the potential exposure of sensitive corporate data, intellectual property, and personal data protected under GDPR. Unauthorized file access could lead to leakage of confidential business documents, customer data, or internal configuration files containing credentials or security settings. This exposure risks regulatory fines, reputational damage, and operational disruption. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government, which often use document management systems like M-Files Server, are particularly vulnerable. The breach of confidentiality could also facilitate further attacks, including lateral movement within networks or privilege escalation. Given the vulnerability requires authentication but no user interaction, insider threats or compromised credentials could be leveraged to exploit this flaw. The high scope impact means that the vulnerability could affect multiple components or services relying on the M-Files Server, amplifying the potential damage. European organizations must consider the risk of non-compliance with data protection regulations if sensitive personal data is exposed.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting access to the M-Files Server API endpoints to trusted internal networks and limiting user privileges to the minimum necessary, especially for accounts with API access. 2. Implement strict monitoring and logging of API access to detect unusual file access patterns or attempts to traverse directories. 3. Enforce strong authentication mechanisms and consider multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 4. Conduct a thorough audit of user accounts and permissions to identify and disable unused or unnecessary accounts with API access. 5. Once available, promptly apply official patches or updates from M-Files Corporation addressing this vulnerability. 6. As an interim control, consider deploying a web application firewall (WAF) or API gateway with custom rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in API requests. 7. Educate administrators and users about the risks of credential compromise and the importance of secure password practices. 8. Review and harden file system permissions on the server to limit the exposure of sensitive files even if path traversal is attempted. 9. Perform penetration testing focused on API endpoints to identify any other potential vulnerabilities or misconfigurations.