CVE-2026-25160 is a critical security vulnerability identified in the AlistGo alist application, a file listing program supporting multiple storage backends and built on Gin and Solidjs frameworks. The flaw arises from improper TLS certificate validation (CWE-295) where, in versions prior to 3.57.0, the application disables TLS certificate verification by default for all outgoing communications to storage drivers. This misconfiguration exposes the application to Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks, allowing adversaries positioned on the network path to intercept and decrypt sensitive data transmitted between the alist client and storage backends. Attackers can also manipulate this data in transit, compromising data integrity. The vulnerability does not require any authentication or user interaction, and can be exploited remotely, increasing its severity. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.1 reflects the critical nature of this vulnerability, highlighting its high impact on confidentiality and integrity with low attack complexity. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild yet, the ease of exploitation and the severity of potential data compromise make this a significant threat. The issue was addressed in alist version 3.57.0 by enabling proper TLS certificate verification by default, closing the attack vector.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2026-25160 is substantial, particularly for entities relying on alist for managing file storage across multiple backend systems. The vulnerability exposes sensitive data to interception and tampering during storage operations, which can lead to data breaches involving personal, financial, or intellectual property information. This is especially critical for organizations subject to GDPR and other stringent data protection regulations, as unauthorized data disclosure or alteration can result in legal penalties and reputational damage. Industries such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure operators are at heightened risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and the regulatory environment. Additionally, the compromise of data integrity could disrupt business processes and decision-making. The lack of authentication and user interaction requirements means attackers can exploit this vulnerability at scale, potentially affecting multiple organizations across Europe if they use vulnerable versions of alist in their infrastructure.

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2026-25160, European organizations should immediately upgrade all instances of alist to version 3.57.0 or later, where TLS certificate verification is enabled by default. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous traffic indicative of MitM attacks. Deploying network-level protections such as TLS interception detection tools, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and enforcing the use of secure VPNs or private networks for storage communications can reduce exposure. Organizations should also audit their storage backend configurations to ensure that all communication channels enforce certificate validation and use strong cryptographic protocols. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on network communications can help identify residual weaknesses. Finally, educating system administrators about the importance of TLS validation and secure configuration management is essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities.