CVE-2025-9615 is a vulnerability identified in the NetworkManager package of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10. NetworkManager is responsible for managing network configurations and allows non-root users to configure network connections. The daemon process runs with root privileges to perform necessary system-level operations. The flaw lies in improper preservation of file permissions when handling user configuration files, which can lead to the daemon accessing files owned by other users beyond the one who added the connection. This means that a non-root user configuring network settings could potentially cause the daemon to read files belonging to other users, leading to unauthorized information disclosure. The vulnerability does not affect the integrity or availability of the system, and exploitation does not require user interaction but does require low-level privileges (non-root user). The CVSS v3.0 score is 3.3, reflecting a low severity primarily due to limited confidentiality impact and the requirement for local access. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigation details are currently provided, though Red Hat is expected to release updates. This vulnerability highlights the risks of privileged daemons improperly handling user data and the importance of strict permission management in multi-user Linux environments.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-9615 is unauthorized disclosure of user-owned files due to improper permission handling by NetworkManager. This could lead to leakage of sensitive information stored in user files, potentially exposing personal data or confidential configuration details. The impact is limited to confidentiality, with no direct effect on system integrity or availability. Organizations with multi-user systems, shared environments, or those that allow non-root users to configure network settings are at higher risk. While the vulnerability requires local access and low privileges, insider threats or compromised user accounts could exploit this flaw to escalate information access. In critical infrastructure sectors or enterprises relying heavily on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, such unauthorized access could undermine data privacy compliance obligations under GDPR and other regulations. However, the low CVSS score and absence of known exploits reduce the immediate risk, though timely remediation is advisable.

1. Apply official patches from Red Hat as soon as they become available to address the improper permission preservation in NetworkManager. 2. Until patches are released, restrict non-root user permissions to configure network settings by limiting membership in groups such as 'network' or 'netdev' that grant such capabilities. 3. Audit and monitor file permissions and access logs related to NetworkManager configuration files to detect any unauthorized access attempts. 4. Implement strict user account management and privilege separation to minimize the number of users with network configuration rights. 5. Employ mandatory access control (MAC) frameworks like SELinux or AppArmor to enforce fine-grained access policies on NetworkManager processes and configuration files. 6. Educate system administrators and users about the risks of local privilege misuse and encourage reporting of suspicious activities. 7. Regularly review and update security policies governing local user permissions and network configuration management.