CVE-2025-14490 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability identified in RealDefense SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition version 10.0.1276. The vulnerability stems from an exposed dangerous function within the SAS Core Service component, which is responsible for core operations of the anti-spyware software. An attacker who already has the ability to execute code with low privileges on the affected system can exploit this flaw to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM level, the highest privilege on Windows systems. This escalation enables the attacker to execute arbitrary code with full system control, potentially bypassing security controls and compromising system confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-749, which involves exposed dangerous methods or functions that can be leveraged for privilege escalation. The CVSS v3.0 score is 7.8, reflecting high severity due to the combination of local attack vector, low attack complexity, required privileges, and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, and no official patches have been released as of the publication date (December 23, 2025). The vulnerability was reserved and assigned by the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) under identifier ZDI-CAN-27659. Organizations using this version of SUPERAntiSpyware should be aware of this risk and prepare to deploy mitigations or patches when available.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially to those relying on RealDefense SUPERAntiSpyware for endpoint protection. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain SYSTEM-level privileges, enabling full control over affected machines. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of security controls, installation of persistent malware, and lateral movement within networks. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and energy could face severe operational and reputational damage if exploited. The requirement for local code execution means initial compromise vectors might include phishing, malicious insiders, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities. The lack of a patch increases the window of exposure, and the high severity score underscores the urgency of addressing this threat. European organizations with distributed endpoints running the affected software are particularly vulnerable to widespread impact.

1. Restrict local user permissions rigorously to minimize the ability of attackers to execute low-privileged code. 2. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor and block suspicious activities related to the SAS Core Service. 3. Disable or limit the SAS Core Service where feasible until a patch is available. 4. Conduct regular audits of installed software versions across endpoints to identify and isolate systems running the vulnerable version 10.0.1276. 5. Implement strict network segmentation to limit lateral movement if an endpoint is compromised. 6. Educate users on phishing and social engineering tactics to reduce initial compromise risk. 7. Monitor vendor communications closely for patch releases and apply updates promptly. 8. Consider deploying additional endpoint protection layers to detect privilege escalation attempts. 9. Use system integrity monitoring tools to detect unauthorized changes at the SYSTEM level. 10. Prepare incident response plans specifically addressing local privilege escalation scenarios.