CVE-2025-43990 identifies a vulnerability in Dell Command Monitor (DCM), a system management tool pre-installed on many Dell devices, which allows execution with unnecessary privileges. Specifically, versions prior to 10.12.3.28 contain a flaw where a low-privileged attacker with local access can exploit improper privilege management (CWE-250) to elevate their privileges on the system. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have local access and some user interaction, but once exploited, it can lead to full compromise of the system's confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.3 reflects the attack vector as local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:R), with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no public exploits are known at this time, the vulnerability poses a significant risk because Dell Command Monitor is widely deployed in enterprise environments for hardware monitoring and management. The flaw arises from the software executing processes or commands with higher privileges than necessary, violating the principle of least privilege and enabling privilege escalation. This can allow attackers to install malware, manipulate system settings, or disrupt operations. The vulnerability was reserved in April 2025 and published in November 2025, but no patches are currently linked, indicating organizations should monitor Dell advisories closely. The threat is particularly relevant to organizations with many Dell endpoints, especially in sectors where local access controls may be weaker or insider threats are a concern.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-43990 can be severe. Privilege escalation vulnerabilities enable attackers who have gained limited local access—such as through compromised user accounts, physical access, or insider threats—to gain full control over affected systems. This can lead to unauthorized data access, installation of persistent malware, disruption of critical services, and potential lateral movement within networks. Enterprises relying heavily on Dell hardware with DCM installed, including government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and manufacturing sectors, face increased risk of operational disruption and data breaches. The vulnerability undermines endpoint security and can facilitate advanced persistent threats (APTs) or ransomware attacks. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, exploitation could result in significant financial losses, regulatory penalties under GDPR, and reputational damage. The requirement for local access somewhat limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with shared workstations or inadequate physical security. The lack of current public exploits provides a window for proactive mitigation, but organizations must act swiftly to prevent potential exploitation as threat actors develop capabilities.

To mitigate CVE-2025-43990, European organizations should implement a multi-layered approach beyond generic patching advice: 1) Monitor Dell’s official channels for the release of security patches or updates for Command Monitor and apply them immediately upon availability. 2) Restrict local access to systems running Dell Command Monitor by enforcing strict physical security controls and limiting user accounts with local login privileges. 3) Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block suspicious privilege escalation attempts. 4) Conduct regular audits of installed software versions across the enterprise to identify vulnerable DCM instances. 5) Harden system configurations by disabling unnecessary services and removing or restricting DCM if not essential for operations. 6) Educate users about the risks of local privilege escalation and enforce strong authentication and session locking policies to reduce the window of opportunity for attackers. 7) Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement if a local compromise occurs. 8) Utilize least privilege principles for all user accounts and service processes to minimize the impact of any escalation. These targeted measures will reduce the attack surface and improve resilience against exploitation of this vulnerability.