CVE-2025-66589 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability classified under CWE-125, discovered in AzeoTech DAQFactory release 20.7 (Build 2555). The flaw arises when the software reads data past the end of an allocated buffer, which can be triggered by an attacker with local access and requiring user interaction. This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored in adjacent memory or cause the application to crash, potentially disrupting industrial processes relying on DAQFactory. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), but user interaction (UI:A) is necessary. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (VC:H, VI:H, VA:H), reflecting the potential for significant data leakage and system instability. No patches are currently available, and no exploits have been reported in the wild. DAQFactory is widely used in industrial automation and data acquisition systems, making this vulnerability particularly relevant to critical infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. The vulnerability does not involve network attack vectors, limiting remote exploitation but increasing the risk from insider threats or compromised local machines. The absence of a patch necessitates immediate risk mitigation through access controls and monitoring until a fix is released.

For European organizations, particularly those in industrial automation, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure sectors, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to leakage of sensitive operational data, intellectual property, or control parameters, undermining confidentiality. System crashes caused by the vulnerability could disrupt production lines, leading to operational downtime and financial losses. Given DAQFactory's role in data acquisition and control, availability impacts could cascade into safety risks or regulatory non-compliance. The requirement for local access and user interaction reduces the likelihood of widespread remote exploitation but increases the threat from insider actors or malware with local execution capabilities. Organizations relying on DAQFactory in sectors such as automotive manufacturing, energy production, and process industries are particularly vulnerable. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high CVSS score indicates that once exploited, the consequences could be severe.

1. Immediately restrict local access to systems running DAQFactory to trusted personnel only, employing strict access control policies and multi-factor authentication where possible. 2. Monitor user activity and application logs for unusual behavior or crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts. 3. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous memory access patterns or application faults. 4. Isolate DAQFactory systems from general user workstations to minimize the risk of user interaction exploitation. 5. Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential crashes or data corruption. 6. Engage with AzeoTech for timely updates and patches; prioritize patch deployment once available. 7. Conduct security awareness training emphasizing the risks of local exploitation and the importance of cautious interaction with DAQFactory interfaces. 8. Consider application whitelisting and privilege restrictions to limit the execution of unauthorized code on affected systems. 9. For critical environments, evaluate temporary compensating controls such as disabling non-essential features or services within DAQFactory that may trigger the vulnerability.