AION: Protection Mechanism Failure
CVE-2025-52643 is a high-severity protection mechanism failure vulnerability in AION from HCL, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an unauthenticated attacker, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. Affected AION versions: 2.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.11% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of AION you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on support.hcl-software.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.
Affected products and versions
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 4.7 | Medium | CNA (hcl.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
HCL AION is affected by a vulnerability where untrusted file parsing operations are not executed within a properly isolated sandbox environment. This may expose the application to potential security risks, including unintended behaviour or integrity impact when processing specially crafted files.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Protection Mechanism Failure
The product does not use or incorrectly uses a protection mechanism that provides sufficient defense against directed attacks against the product.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in AION
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
Recent Protection Mechanism Failure vulnerabilities
- 8.4 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
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