CVE-2025-47865 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability identified in Trend Micro Apex Central, specifically affecting versions below 8.0.6955. Apex Central is a centralized management console used for managing Trend Micro security products across enterprise environments. The vulnerability stems from undefined behavior when processing input to a particular API within a widget component of the product. This flaw allows an attacker with local privileges to manipulate input parameters in such a way that arbitrary files on the server can be included and executed. The consequence of this LFI vulnerability is remote code execution (RCE), enabling an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, indicating a high severity level. The vector string (AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) shows that the attack requires network access, low privileges, and high attack complexity, but no user interaction. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, meaning an attacker could fully compromise the system. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's nature and severity make it a significant risk for organizations using vulnerable versions of Apex Central. Since Apex Central manages security products, compromise of this system could lead to widespread control over endpoint protection and security policies, amplifying the potential damage.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is substantial. Trend Micro Apex Central is widely deployed in enterprises for centralized security management, including in sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, allowing attackers to disable or manipulate security controls, exfiltrate sensitive data, or pivot to other internal systems. This could result in data breaches, operational disruption, and regulatory non-compliance, especially under GDPR requirements. The high integrity and availability impact means critical security infrastructure could be undermined, increasing the risk of further attacks or persistent threats. Given the centralized role of Apex Central, the compromise could affect multiple endpoints and security layers, magnifying the potential damage across an organization's entire IT environment.

Organizations should prioritize upgrading Trend Micro Apex Central to version 8.0.6955 or later, where this vulnerability is addressed. In the absence of an immediate patch, restrict network access to the Apex Central management console to trusted administrative networks only, using network segmentation and firewall rules. Implement strict access controls and monitor for unusual activity on the management console. Employ application-layer firewalls or web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious API inputs that could exploit LFI. Conduct regular audits of user privileges to ensure only necessary personnel have access to Apex Central. Additionally, enable comprehensive logging and integrate with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems to detect potential exploitation attempts. Finally, prepare incident response plans specifically addressing potential compromise of security management infrastructure to enable rapid containment and recovery.