CVE-2025-46684 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-378, which concerns the creation of temporary files with insecure permissions. This flaw exists in Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery versions prior to 5.5.15.1. The vulnerability allows a low privileged attacker who has local access to the affected system to exploit the insecure file permissions on temporary files created by the software. Because these temporary files are not securely protected, an attacker could modify or replace them, leading to information tampering. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.6, indicating a medium severity level. The vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H) shows that the attack requires local access, low attack complexity, low privileges, and user interaction, with no confidentiality impact but high integrity and availability impacts. Although no exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized modification of recovery-related files, potentially disrupting system recovery processes or causing incorrect recovery outcomes. This could affect system stability and reliability, especially in environments relying on Dell's recovery tools for system restoration.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to significant operational disruptions if exploited. Since Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery is commonly used on Dell hardware, organizations relying on Dell systems for critical infrastructure or business operations may face risks of system recovery failures or manipulated recovery data. This could result in downtime, loss of data integrity, or compromised system availability. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but insider threats or compromised user accounts could leverage this vulnerability. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, which often use Dell hardware and require reliable recovery mechanisms, may be particularly impacted. Additionally, disruption in recovery processes could delay incident response and recovery efforts following other cyber incidents.

Organizations should prioritize updating Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery to version 5.5.15.1 or later once patches are released by Dell. Until patches are available, restrict local user permissions to minimize the number of users who can access and modify temporary files created by SupportAssist OS Recovery. Implement strict endpoint security controls to prevent unauthorized local access and monitor for unusual file modifications in recovery-related directories. Employ application whitelisting and integrity monitoring tools to detect tampering attempts. Educate users about the risks of interacting with recovery tools without proper authorization. Additionally, consider isolating systems with SupportAssist OS Recovery in secure network segments to reduce insider threat risks. Regularly audit and review local user privileges and system logs for signs of exploitation attempts.