CVE-2025-8909 is an Absolute Path Traversal vulnerability (CWE-36) identified in the WellChoose Organization Portal System. This vulnerability allows remote attackers who already have regular user privileges to exploit the system's file handling mechanisms to read arbitrary files on the underlying system. The flaw arises because the application does not properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input that specifies file paths, enabling attackers to traverse directories and access files outside the intended directory scope. Exploiting this vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be performed remotely over the network. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based, the attack complexity is low, privileges are required but only regular user level, and the impact is limited to confidentiality (high impact on confidentiality), with no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. The affected product version is listed as '0', which likely indicates an initial or early release version of the WellChoose Organization Portal System. The vulnerability could allow attackers to access sensitive system files such as configuration files, password files, or other data that could facilitate further attacks or information disclosure. Since the vulnerability requires regular privileges, it may be leveraged in scenarios where an attacker has gained limited access to the system or through compromised user credentials. The lack of integrity or availability impact suggests that the vulnerability is primarily a data confidentiality risk rather than one that could disrupt system operations or modify data.

For European organizations using the WellChoose Organization Portal System, this vulnerability poses a significant confidentiality risk. Attackers with regular user access could exploit the vulnerability to read sensitive files, potentially exposing confidential business information, user data, or system configuration details. This could lead to further targeted attacks, such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. Given the nature of the vulnerability, organizations in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government could face compliance violations if sensitive personal or financial data is exposed. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk, but the lack of available patches means organizations remain vulnerable. The impact is heightened in environments where user credentials are more easily compromised or where internal threat actors exist. Additionally, the ability to read arbitrary files could expose cryptographic keys or credentials stored on the system, increasing the risk of broader compromise. Since the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, operational disruptions are unlikely, but the confidentiality breach alone can have severe reputational and legal consequences under European data protection regulations such as GDPR.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting access to the Organization Portal System to trusted users and networks, minimizing the risk of attackers obtaining regular user credentials. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all file path parameters within the application to prevent directory traversal sequences (e.g., '..', absolute paths). 3. Employ application-layer access controls to ensure users can only access files within their authorized directories. 4. Monitor and audit file access logs for unusual or unauthorized file read attempts, especially targeting sensitive system files. 5. Use network segmentation and least privilege principles to limit the impact of compromised user accounts. 6. Engage with WellChoose to obtain patches or updates addressing this vulnerability as soon as they become available. 7. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block path traversal attack patterns targeting the portal. 8. Educate users about credential security to reduce the risk of account compromise. 9. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focused on file access controls within the portal system.