CVE-2025-8528 is a vulnerability identified in the Exrick xboot software, versions 3.3.0 through 3.3.4. The issue arises from an unknown function within the /xboot/permission/getMenuList endpoint, which improperly stores sensitive information in cleartext within a cookie. This vulnerability allows an attacker to remotely exploit the system without requiring authentication or user interaction. However, the attack complexity is rated as high, and the exploitability is considered difficult, indicating that successful exploitation requires significant effort or specific conditions. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by exposing sensitive data through cookies, which could be intercepted or accessed by unauthorized parties, potentially leading to further attacks such as session hijacking or privilege escalation. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.3 (medium severity), reflecting the network attack vector, high attack complexity, and no privileges or user interaction needed. The vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability directly and does not involve scope changes or elevated privileges. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the public disclosure of the vulnerability increases the risk of future exploitation. No patches or fixes have been explicitly linked in the provided data, suggesting that affected organizations should prioritize mitigation and monitoring until official updates are available.

For European organizations using Exrick xboot versions 3.3.0 to 3.3.4, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to the confidentiality of sensitive information. The cleartext storage of sensitive data in cookies can lead to unauthorized data disclosure if attackers intercept or access these cookies, especially in environments where secure cookie attributes (e.g., Secure, HttpOnly) are not properly configured. This could facilitate session hijacking or unauthorized access to protected resources, potentially compromising user accounts or internal systems. Given the remote attack vector and lack of required privileges, attackers could target exposed web applications from outside the network perimeter. The high complexity and difficulty of exploitation somewhat limit immediate widespread impact; however, organizations with high-value data or critical services relying on xboot should consider this vulnerability significant. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate risk, especially as exploit code may be developed following public disclosure. Compliance with European data protection regulations (such as GDPR) may be impacted if sensitive personal data is exposed due to this vulnerability, leading to potential legal and reputational consequences.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigation measures: 1) Immediately audit and review the usage of Exrick xboot versions 3.3.0 to 3.3.4 and identify all instances of the vulnerable software. 2) Apply any available patches or updates from the vendor as soon as they are released; if no patch is currently available, consider upgrading to a non-affected version or alternative solutions. 3) Review and harden cookie management practices by ensuring cookies containing sensitive information are encrypted, marked with Secure and HttpOnly flags, and have appropriate SameSite attributes to reduce exposure. 4) Implement web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the /xboot/permission/getMenuList endpoint. 5) Monitor network traffic and logs for unusual access patterns or attempts to exploit this vulnerability. 6) Conduct internal security awareness to inform administrators and developers about the risks of cleartext sensitive data storage and encourage secure coding practices. 7) Where feasible, isolate or restrict access to vulnerable services to trusted networks until remediation is complete. 8) Perform regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on cookie security and session management to identify residual risks.