CVE-2025-24826 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability identified in Acronis Snap Deploy for Windows versions prior to build 4625. The root cause of this vulnerability is insecure folder permissions, classified under CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions). Specifically, the affected software improperly sets permissions on certain folders, allowing users with limited privileges to modify or replace files within these directories. This misconfiguration can be exploited by a local attacker to escalate their privileges on the affected system, potentially gaining administrative or SYSTEM-level access. Since Acronis Snap Deploy is a deployment and imaging solution used to clone and deploy Windows operating systems across multiple machines, the vulnerability poses a risk in environments where multiple users have access to the system or where endpoint security is critical. The vulnerability requires local access to the system, meaning an attacker must already have some level of access, but does not require user interaction beyond executing code or commands locally. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches or updates have been linked yet. However, the medium severity rating indicates a moderate risk, primarily due to the potential for privilege escalation which can lead to full system compromise if exploited successfully.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for enterprises and public sector entities that rely on Acronis Snap Deploy for large-scale OS deployment and system imaging. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker with limited access—such as a standard user or a compromised account—to escalate privileges and gain administrative control over deployment servers or endpoints. This could lead to unauthorized modification of deployment images, insertion of malicious code into system images, or disruption of deployment processes. Such actions could result in widespread compromise of endpoint devices, data breaches, or operational disruptions. Given the critical role of deployment tools in IT infrastructure, this vulnerability could undermine the integrity and availability of IT services. Additionally, organizations in regulated sectors (e.g., finance, healthcare, critical infrastructure) may face compliance risks if unauthorized access leads to data exposure or service outages. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability details become widely known.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Immediately audit folder and file permissions related to Acronis Snap Deploy installations to identify any insecure configurations. 2) Restrict access to deployment servers and management consoles to trusted administrators only, minimizing the number of users with local access. 3) Implement strict access control policies and use Windows security features such as Access Control Lists (ACLs) to enforce least privilege on folders used by Acronis Snap Deploy. 4) Monitor system logs and file integrity for unauthorized changes in deployment directories. 5) Until an official patch is released, consider isolating deployment servers from general user networks and restrict local logins to prevent exploitation. 6) Educate IT staff about the vulnerability and encourage vigilance for suspicious activity on deployment systems. 7) Plan for rapid deployment of patches or updates from Acronis once available. 8) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect potential privilege escalation attempts. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on permission audits, access restrictions, and proactive monitoring tailored to the deployment environment.