CVE-2025-27688 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-732, indicating incorrect permission assignment for critical resources within Dell Wyse Proprietary OS (Modern ThinOS), specifically versions 2408 and earlier. This flaw allows a low-privileged attacker who has local access to the device to exploit improper permissions on sensitive system components or files, thereby elevating their privileges to higher levels, potentially administrative or system-level. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and has a low attack complexity, making exploitation feasible once local access is obtained. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, meaning an attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify system configurations, or disrupt device operations. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Dell ThinOS in thin client deployments across enterprises, healthcare, government, and financial sectors. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting necessitates immediate mitigation through configuration reviews and access control hardening. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of correct permission settings on embedded or proprietary operating systems used in endpoint devices.

The vulnerability enables local attackers with minimal privileges to escalate their access rights, potentially gaining full control over affected ThinOS devices. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, unauthorized modification or deletion of data, and disruption of device availability. Since ThinOS devices are commonly used as thin clients in enterprise and government environments, exploitation could facilitate lateral movement within networks, compromise user sessions, or enable installation of persistent malware. The impact extends to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on these devices for secure remote access. The absence of user interaction and low complexity of exploitation increase the likelihood of successful attacks once local access is achieved, which could be through physical access or compromised user accounts. This vulnerability could undermine trust in endpoint security and lead to broader network compromises if not addressed promptly.

Organizations should immediately audit and restrict local user permissions on Dell ThinOS devices to minimize the risk of privilege escalation. Physical security controls should be enhanced to prevent unauthorized local access. Until official patches are released by Dell, administrators should disable or limit access to unnecessary local interfaces and services that could be exploited. Implementing strict device usage policies and monitoring for unusual local activity can help detect exploitation attempts. Network segmentation can reduce the impact of compromised thin clients. Once Dell releases patches or updates, they should be applied promptly. Additionally, organizations should maintain up-to-date inventories of ThinOS devices and ensure endpoint security solutions are configured to detect anomalous privilege escalation behaviors. Training IT staff on this specific vulnerability and its exploitation methods will improve incident response readiness.