CVE-2025-46636 is a vulnerability identified in Dell Encryption software versions prior to 11.12.1, classified under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following'). This vulnerability arises when the software improperly resolves symbolic links or shortcuts before accessing files, allowing a low privileged attacker with local access to manipulate which files are accessed or modified. Exploitation requires the attacker to have local system access and involves some user interaction, such as triggering the encryption software to process a crafted link. The consequence of successful exploitation is information tampering, which affects the integrity and availability of data protected by Dell Encryption. The CVSS v3.1 score of 6.6 reflects a medium severity level, with attack vector Local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact metrics indicate no confidentiality impact (C:N), but high integrity (I:H) and availability (A:H) impacts. No public exploits are known at this time, but the vulnerability poses a risk in environments where local user accounts are not tightly controlled. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may be forthcoming or pending release. Organizations relying on Dell Encryption for data protection should be aware of this vulnerability and prepare to apply updates promptly once available.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-46636 can be significant in environments where Dell Encryption is deployed to protect sensitive data. The vulnerability allows a low privileged local attacker to tamper with encrypted data or disrupt encryption services, potentially leading to data integrity loss and availability issues. This could affect sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure where data protection is paramount. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but raises concerns about insider threats or compromised endpoints. In regulated industries subject to GDPR, any data tampering or availability disruption could lead to compliance violations and reputational damage. The medium severity rating indicates that while the vulnerability is not trivially exploitable remotely, it still demands attention to prevent potential misuse in environments with multiple users or shared systems. Organizations with lax endpoint security or insufficient user privilege management are at higher risk.

1. Apply patches or updates from Dell as soon as they become available for Dell Encryption to address this vulnerability. 2. Until patches are released, restrict local user permissions to the minimum necessary, especially on systems running Dell Encryption, to reduce the risk of exploitation by low privileged users. 3. Implement strict endpoint security controls, including application whitelisting and monitoring for unusual file system activity related to symbolic links or shortcuts. 4. Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted files or links on systems with encryption software installed. 5. Use host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to detect attempts to exploit link following vulnerabilities. 6. Regularly audit and monitor local accounts and their activities to detect potential insider threats or unauthorized access. 7. Employ network segmentation to isolate critical systems running Dell Encryption from less trusted user environments. 8. Maintain comprehensive backups of encrypted data to enable recovery in case of data tampering or availability disruption.