CVE-2025-10714 identifies an unquoted search path vulnerability (CWE-428) in the AXIS Optimizer software developed by Axis Communications AB. This vulnerability arises because the software's installation path on Microsoft Windows is not properly quoted, allowing Windows to misinterpret the path and potentially execute malicious binaries placed by an attacker. Specifically, if an attacker with local access and some privileges (at least limited write access to the installation directory) places a malicious executable in a directory path segment without quotes, Windows may execute this malicious code with elevated privileges when the AXIS Optimizer or related services run. The vulnerability requires local access and does not require user interaction, but it does require the attacker to have some level of privilege to write to the installation path. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.4 reflects a high severity, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), privileges required low (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), scope changed (S:C), no confidentiality impact (C:N), high integrity impact (I:H), and high availability impact (A:H). This means the vulnerability can lead to significant integrity and availability damage, such as privilege escalation and potential system compromise. No public exploits are known yet, but the vulnerability is published and should be addressed promptly. The lack of a patch link indicates that a fix may not yet be available, increasing the urgency for mitigation through access controls and monitoring.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk of local privilege escalation on Windows systems running AXIS Optimizer. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise, unauthorized changes to system configurations, or disruption of services. This is particularly concerning for organizations using AXIS Optimizer in critical infrastructure sectors such as security surveillance, manufacturing, or utilities, where Axis Communications products are commonly deployed. The integrity and availability of affected systems could be severely impacted, potentially causing operational disruptions. Confidentiality impact is low, but the elevated privileges could be leveraged for further attacks or lateral movement within networks. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but insider threats or attackers who gain initial footholds on endpoints could exploit this vulnerability. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, especially given the high CVSS score and potential impact.

1. Restrict write permissions on the AXIS Optimizer installation directory to trusted administrators only, preventing unauthorized users from placing malicious executables. 2. Implement strict local access controls and monitor user privileges to minimize the risk of attackers gaining the necessary access to exploit this vulnerability. 3. Use application whitelisting or endpoint protection solutions to detect and block unauthorized executable files in sensitive directories. 4. Regularly audit installed software paths for unquoted spaces and apply manual fixes by quoting paths or relocating installations to paths without spaces. 5. Monitor system logs and behavior for unusual process executions or privilege escalations related to AXIS Optimizer. 6. Coordinate with Axis Communications for timely patch releases and apply updates as soon as they become available. 7. Educate local administrators and users about the risks of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities and enforce the principle of least privilege. 8. Consider network segmentation to limit access to systems running AXIS Optimizer, reducing the attack surface for local exploits.