CVE-2025-30025 is a vulnerability identified in Axis Communications AB's AXIS Device Manager, specifically affecting versions prior to 5.32. The root cause is a flaw in the communication protocol between the server process and the service control component, which involves deserialization of untrusted data (CWE-502). Deserialization vulnerabilities occur when untrusted input is used to reconstruct objects, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the process to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges. In this case, the vulnerability enables local privilege escalation, meaning an attacker with limited access to the system could exploit this flaw to gain higher privileges, potentially administrative rights. The CVSS v4.0 score is 4.8 (medium severity), reflecting that exploitation requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and privileges at a low level (PR:L). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is limited but non-negligible, with partial impacts on integrity and availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability's exploitation vector is local, so remote exploitation is not feasible without prior access. However, once exploited, it could allow attackers to bypass security controls, modify system configurations, or disrupt device management operations. AXIS Device Manager is used to manage and monitor Axis network devices such as cameras and access control systems, which are critical in physical security environments. Therefore, this vulnerability could indirectly affect the security posture of organizations relying on these devices for surveillance and access control.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-30025 could be significant in sectors relying heavily on physical security infrastructure managed by AXIS Device Manager, such as government facilities, transportation hubs, critical infrastructure, and large enterprises. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker with local access to elevate privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized changes in device configurations, disabling of surveillance systems, or tampering with access controls. This could compromise physical security, leading to unauthorized physical access or blind spots in surveillance coverage. Although the vulnerability requires local access, insider threats or attackers who have gained initial footholds through other means could leverage this flaw to deepen their control. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it poses a tangible risk that could facilitate further attacks or disruptions. Given the interconnected nature of security systems, exploitation could cascade into broader operational impacts, including compliance violations with European data protection and security regulations.

To mitigate CVE-2025-30025, European organizations should: 1) Immediately verify the AXIS Device Manager version in use and plan for an upgrade to version 5.32 or later once available, as this will contain the fix for the vulnerability. 2) Restrict local access to servers running AXIS Device Manager by enforcing strict access controls, including limiting administrative privileges and using network segmentation to isolate management servers. 3) Monitor logs and system behavior for unusual activities indicative of privilege escalation attempts, such as unexpected process launches or configuration changes. 4) Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous local privilege escalation behaviors. 5) Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests focusing on local access vectors to identify potential exploitation paths. 6) Educate staff about the risks of local access vulnerabilities and enforce policies to prevent unauthorized physical or remote local access. 7) If immediate patching is not possible, consider temporary compensating controls such as disabling unnecessary services or communication protocols involved in the vulnerable process to reduce attack surface.