CVE-2025-15310 is a vulnerability identified in Tanium Patch Endpoint Tools, specifically affecting versions 3.17.0, 10.1.0, and 10.2.0. The flaw is categorized as an improper link resolution before file access, or 'link following' vulnerability. This means that the software incorrectly handles symbolic or hard links when accessing files, allowing an attacker with local access and limited privileges to manipulate the file system paths. By exploiting this, an attacker can escalate their privileges on the endpoint, gaining higher-level access than intended. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, indicating high severity, with attack vector as local, low attack complexity, requiring low privileges, no user interaction, and impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The flaw could allow an attacker to overwrite or access sensitive files, execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, or disrupt system operations. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the nature of the vulnerability makes it a significant risk for organizations relying on Tanium Patch Endpoint Tools for endpoint management and patching. The vulnerability was reserved at the end of 2025 and published in early 2026, reflecting recent discovery and disclosure. Tanium’s Patch Endpoint Tools are widely used in enterprise environments for patch management and endpoint security, making this vulnerability particularly relevant for organizations with large-scale deployments.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-15310 can be substantial. Successful exploitation allows local attackers to escalate privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of patch management processes, and the ability to deploy malicious code with elevated rights. Given that Patch Endpoint Tools are critical for maintaining endpoint security and compliance, exploitation could undermine an organization's security posture, delay patch deployment, and increase exposure to other threats. Industries with strict regulatory requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, may face compliance violations and operational risks. Additionally, the disruption of endpoint management can affect large-scale IT environments common in European enterprises, increasing remediation costs and operational downtime.

Organizations should immediately verify their use of Tanium Patch Endpoint Tools and identify affected versions (3.17.0, 10.1.0, 10.2.0). The primary mitigation is to apply the official patches released by Tanium as soon as they become available. Until patches are applied, restrict local user permissions to the minimum necessary, especially limiting access to systems running the vulnerable software. Implement strict file system permissions and monitoring to detect unusual symbolic or hard link creation or manipulation. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for suspicious local privilege escalation attempts. Conduct regular audits of local accounts and privilege assignments. Additionally, educate IT staff about the vulnerability and ensure incident response plans include scenarios involving local privilege escalation. Network segmentation can also limit the impact of compromised endpoints.