CVE-2025-62877 is a critical security vulnerability identified in SUSE Harvester, an open-source virtualization management platform, specifically affecting versions 1.5.0 and 1.6.0. The vulnerability arises from CWE-1188, which involves the initialization of a resource with an insecure default—in this case, the default SSH login password on the operating system deployed within the Harvester environment. When users employ the interactive installer to create a new cluster or add new hosts, the system sets a default SSH password that is insecure and potentially exposed. This flaw allows remote attackers to connect via SSH without authentication, as no user interaction or privileges are required, enabling full system compromise. The vulnerability does not impact environments where the PXE boot mechanism is used alongside the Harvester configuration setup, indicating that the insecure default password is only set during interactive installation. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 reflects the vulnerability's ease of exploitation (network vector, no privileges, no user interaction) and its severe impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the critical nature of the flaw necessitates urgent attention. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting means organizations must rely on mitigating deployment methods and monitoring for updates from SUSE. This vulnerability poses a significant risk to virtualized infrastructures relying on SUSE Harvester, particularly in environments where secure SSH access is critical for operational security.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-62877 is substantial. The exposure of default SSH credentials can lead to unauthorized remote access, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands, deploy malware, or disrupt services. This compromises the confidentiality of sensitive data, the integrity of virtualized workloads, and the availability of critical infrastructure managed by SUSE Harvester. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and telecommunications that rely on virtualization for scalability and resilience are particularly vulnerable. The ease of exploitation without authentication or user interaction increases the risk of widespread attacks, potentially leading to data breaches, service outages, and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR and other frameworks. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as a foothold for lateral movement within networks, escalating the threat to broader enterprise environments. Given the criticality of virtualization in modern IT operations, the operational disruption and reputational damage could be severe if exploited.

To mitigate CVE-2025-62877, European organizations should immediately avoid using the interactive installer for creating new clusters or adding hosts in SUSE Harvester versions 1.5.0 and 1.6.0. Instead, they should deploy clusters using the PXE boot mechanism combined with the Harvester configuration setup, which is not affected by this vulnerability. Organizations should monitor SUSE’s official channels for patches or updated versions that address this issue and plan prompt upgrades once available. Additionally, network-level controls such as restricting SSH access to trusted management networks, implementing strict firewall rules, and employing intrusion detection systems can reduce exposure. It is also advisable to audit existing deployments for the presence of default SSH credentials and enforce immediate password changes or key-based authentication. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focused on SSH access can help detect exploitation attempts. Finally, organizations should update incident response plans to include this vulnerability and educate administrators on secure deployment practices for SUSE Harvester.