CVE-2025-14489 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability identified in RealDefense SUPERAntiSpyware version 10.0.1276 Free Edition. The flaw exists in the SAS Core Service component, where an exposed dangerous function (classified under CWE-749: Exposed Dangerous Method or Function) allows an attacker who already has the ability to execute code with low privileges on the affected system to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM level. This escalation enables arbitrary code execution with the highest system privileges, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require the attacker to have initial access to execute low-privileged code, such as through another vulnerability or local access. The CVSS v3.0 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity with attack vector local, low attack complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability was reserved and published in December 2025. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting means affected users must rely on compensating controls until updates are released. The vulnerability was tracked by the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) as ZDI-CAN-27658.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to endpoint security, especially in environments where RealDefense SUPERAntiSpyware is deployed on user or administrative workstations. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain SYSTEM-level privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise, lateral movement, and persistence within corporate networks. This can result in data breaches, disruption of services, and undermining of trust in endpoint protection solutions. Organizations with strict regulatory requirements around data protection (e.g., GDPR) face increased compliance risks if exploited. The requirement for local code execution means attackers must first breach lower security layers, but once achieved, the impact is severe. The vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value assets or in multi-stage attack chains. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as exploit code may be developed over time.

1. Monitor for updates from RealDefense and apply patches immediately once available to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Restrict local code execution privileges by enforcing application whitelisting and least privilege principles to reduce the chance of initial low-privilege code execution. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect unusual privilege escalation attempts or suspicious behavior related to the SAS Core Service. 4. Harden systems by disabling unnecessary services and restricting access to the SUPERAntiSpyware components where feasible. 5. Conduct regular audits of installed software versions across endpoints to identify and prioritize vulnerable systems. 6. Educate users and administrators about the risks of running untrusted code locally and enforce strong access controls. 7. Consider network segmentation to limit the spread of an attacker who gains SYSTEM-level access on one machine. 8. Use host-based intrusion prevention systems (HIPS) to block exploitation attempts targeting known vulnerable functions.