CVE-2025-14491 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting RealDefense SUPERAntiSpyware version 10.0.1276 Free Edition. The flaw is due to an exposed dangerous function within the SAS Core Service component, which improperly exposes functionality that can be leveraged by an attacker who already has the ability to execute code with limited privileges on the target system. By exploiting this vulnerability, the attacker can escalate their privileges to SYSTEM level, allowing arbitrary code execution with the highest privileges on the affected machine. This can lead to full system compromise, including unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification or deletion of critical files, and disruption of system availability. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no user interaction required. Although no public exploits or patches are currently available, the vulnerability was publicly disclosed on December 23, 2025, with the advisory originating from the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) under identifier ZDI-CAN-27660. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-749 (Exposed Dangerous Method or Function), indicating that the software exposes internal methods or functions that can be misused by attackers. Exploitation requires prior local code execution with limited privileges, meaning initial access vectors such as phishing, malware, or other local exploits could be leveraged to chain attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects the Free Edition of SUPERAntiSpyware, which is used for malware detection and removal on Windows endpoints. Given the nature of the flaw, attackers can gain persistent and elevated control over affected systems, posing significant risks to enterprise environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to endpoint security, particularly for those using RealDefense SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition version 10.0.1276. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain SYSTEM-level privileges, enabling full control over affected machines. This can lead to unauthorized data access, lateral movement within networks, deployment of ransomware or other malware, and disruption of critical services. The impact extends to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems, potentially affecting compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR. Organizations with large Windows endpoint deployments using this software are at heightened risk. The lack of available patches increases exposure time, and the requirement for local code execution means that attackers who have already compromised a low-privilege account can escalate their access, amplifying the threat. This vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value assets or critical infrastructure within Europe, increasing the potential for significant operational and reputational damage.

European organizations should immediately audit their endpoint inventory to identify installations of RealDefense SUPERAntiSpyware version 10.0.1276 Free Edition. Until a patch is released, mitigate risk by restricting local user permissions to prevent unauthorized code execution, employing application whitelisting to block untrusted binaries, and enhancing endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities to monitor for suspicious activity related to the SAS Core Service. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit lateral movement from compromised endpoints. Regularly review and tighten local privilege assignments and consider disabling or uninstalling the affected software if it is not critical. Organizations should subscribe to vendor and security advisories to apply patches promptly once available. Additionally, conduct user awareness training to reduce the risk of initial low-privilege code execution vectors such as phishing. Implementing robust logging and alerting on privilege escalation attempts can help detect exploitation attempts early.