CVE-2025-13152 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element) affecting Lenovo One Client. The issue was discovered during an internal security assessment and involves DLL hijacking, where the software improperly controls the search path for dynamic link libraries. This flaw allows a local authenticated user to place or influence the loading of a malicious DLL, which the application then executes with elevated privileges. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and has a low attack complexity, but it does require local access and existing privileges. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N) indicates local attack vector, low complexity, no attack prerequisites, and no user interaction, with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits are known, the potential for privilege escalation makes this a critical concern. The vulnerability affects all versions of Lenovo One Client as indicated by the affectedVersions field. The absence of patch links suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available, emphasizing the need for immediate mitigation strategies. This vulnerability could be leveraged by malicious insiders or attackers who have gained local access to escalate privileges and compromise systems.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially those using Lenovo One Client in enterprise environments. The ability for a local user to escalate privileges can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical services, and potential lateral movement within networks. Confidentiality is at risk as attackers could access protected information; integrity is compromised through unauthorized code execution; and availability may be affected if attackers disrupt or disable services. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, which often use Lenovo hardware and software, could face severe operational and reputational damage. The threat is heightened in environments where endpoint security is weak or where multiple users share systems. Given the high CVSS score and the nature of the vulnerability, exploitation could facilitate advanced persistent threats or insider attacks, undermining compliance with European data protection regulations such as GDPR.

Organizations should immediately audit their use of Lenovo One Client and restrict local user permissions to the minimum necessary. Until a vendor patch is released, implement application whitelisting and monitor DLL loading behavior using endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect anomalous DLL injections. Employ strict access controls and segregate user privileges to limit the ability of attackers to exploit this vulnerability. Regularly review and harden system PATH environment variables and directory permissions to prevent unauthorized DLL placement. Conduct user awareness training to reduce the risk of local compromise. Once Lenovo releases a patch, prioritize its deployment across all affected systems. Additionally, consider implementing host-based intrusion prevention systems (HIPS) to block unauthorized code execution. Maintain comprehensive logging and alerting to detect any attempts to exploit this vulnerability.