CVE-2025-1984 is a Local Privilege Escalation (LPE) vulnerability identified in the Xerox® Desktop Print Experience application. The root cause of this vulnerability is an unquoted search path or element (CWE-428), which occurs when the application improperly handles executable paths containing spaces without enclosing them in quotes. This flaw can be exploited by a low-privileged user on the affected system to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM-level access. SYSTEM-level privileges represent the highest level of access on Windows operating systems, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code with full control over the system. The vulnerability is classified with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.2 (medium severity), reflecting that it requires local access (Attack Vector: Local), low attack complexity, and low privileges but no user interaction. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity by allowing unauthorized access and modification of system resources, but it does not affect availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability affects Xerox® Desktop Print Experience, a software product commonly used in environments with Xerox printing devices to manage print jobs and device interactions. The unquoted search path issue typically arises when the application loads executables or DLLs from directories that include spaces in their names without proper quotation marks, allowing an attacker to place malicious executables in higher-priority directories in the search path. When the application or service runs, it inadvertently executes the malicious code with elevated privileges. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in shared or multi-user systems where low-privileged users have local access but should not have administrative control. Given the nature of the vulnerability, exploitation requires local access to the machine but no user interaction, making it a stealthy and effective privilege escalation vector once initial access is obtained.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk in environments where Xerox® Desktop Print Experience is deployed, especially in corporate or governmental settings with shared workstations or print servers. An attacker with local access could leverage this vulnerability to gain SYSTEM-level privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise, unauthorized data access, and lateral movement within the network. This could result in exposure of sensitive information, disruption of printing services, and potential footholds for further attacks such as ransomware deployment or espionage. The impact is heightened in sectors with strict data protection regulations like GDPR, where unauthorized access and data breaches can lead to severe legal and financial penalties. Additionally, organizations with large-scale print infrastructure relying on Xerox solutions may face operational disruptions if attackers exploit this vulnerability to manipulate print jobs or disable printing capabilities. Since the vulnerability does not require user interaction, it can be exploited silently, increasing the risk of undetected compromise. The medium CVSS score reflects moderate severity, but the potential for SYSTEM-level access elevates the threat in environments where local user accounts are not tightly controlled or monitored.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Immediately audit all systems running Xerox® Desktop Print Experience to identify affected versions and prioritize them for remediation. 2) Apply any available patches or updates from Xerox as soon as they are released; if no patch is currently available, engage with Xerox support for guidance or workarounds. 3) As a temporary mitigation, restrict local user permissions to prevent unauthorized users from placing executables in directories that are part of the application’s search path, especially those with spaces in their names. 4) Review and harden the system PATH environment variables and executable search paths to ensure all paths containing spaces are properly quoted or that untrusted directories are removed from the search path. 5) Implement application whitelisting and code integrity policies (e.g., Windows Defender Application Control) to prevent execution of unauthorized binaries. 6) Enhance endpoint monitoring to detect unusual privilege escalation attempts or execution of unexpected binaries with SYSTEM privileges. 7) Limit local administrative rights and enforce the principle of least privilege to reduce the risk of exploitation. 8) Educate IT staff and users about the risks of local privilege escalation and the importance of reporting suspicious activity. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific nature of the unquoted search path vulnerability and the Xerox product context.