CVE-2025-2503 is a vulnerability identified in Lenovo PC Manager, a utility software designed to help users manage and optimize their Lenovo PCs. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-280, which relates to improper handling of insufficient permissions or privileges. Specifically, this flaw allows a local attacker with limited privileges (low-level privileges) to perform arbitrary file deletions with elevated user rights. This means that the attacker can delete files that normally require higher permissions, potentially leading to denial of service or disruption of critical system or application files. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and does not involve network attack vectors (AV:L), indicating that exploitation requires local access to the machine. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.9, which is considered medium severity. The attack complexity is low (AC:L), and no authentication is required beyond low privileges (PR:L). The impact on confidentiality is none, but the impact on integrity and availability is high, as arbitrary file deletion can compromise system stability and data integrity. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was published on May 30, 2025, and reserved on March 18, 2025. This vulnerability highlights a critical flaw in permission validation within Lenovo PC Manager that could be leveraged by local attackers to escalate their privileges indirectly by deleting important files, potentially causing system malfunction or data loss.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk particularly in environments where Lenovo PCs are widely deployed and Lenovo PC Manager is installed and used for system maintenance. The ability for a local attacker to delete arbitrary files with elevated privileges could lead to operational disruptions, data loss, or system downtime. This is especially critical for organizations with sensitive or regulated data, such as financial institutions, healthcare providers, and government agencies, where data integrity and availability are paramount. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited by insider threats or attackers who gain limited local access through other means (e.g., phishing, physical access). The lack of requirement for user interaction increases the risk of automated or stealthy exploitation. Although no remote exploitation is possible, the impact on endpoint stability and security posture is considerable, potentially affecting incident response and recovery efforts. Organizations relying on Lenovo PC Manager for system updates and diagnostics may face increased risk of compromised system integrity, affecting business continuity and compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should first verify whether Lenovo PC Manager is installed on their endpoints and identify the versions in use. Since no patches are currently linked, organizations should monitor Lenovo’s official security advisories for updates or patches addressing CVE-2025-2503. In the interim, restrict local user privileges to the minimum necessary, ensuring that users do not have unnecessary low-level privileges that could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent unauthorized file deletions or suspicious activities by Lenovo PC Manager or other processes. Implement strict access controls and audit logging to monitor file system changes, especially in critical directories. Consider disabling or uninstalling Lenovo PC Manager on systems where it is not essential. Additionally, enforce physical security controls to prevent unauthorized local access to devices. Regular backups and tested recovery procedures should be maintained to mitigate the impact of potential file deletions. Finally, conduct user awareness training to reduce the risk of local compromise through social engineering or insider threats.