CVE-2025-48963 is a high-severity local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting the Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud Agent across Linux, macOS, and Windows platforms prior to build 40296. The root cause is improper handling of symbolic links (soft links), classified under CWE-610 (Improper Restriction of Symbolic Links in a File System). This flaw allows an attacker with limited privileges on a system to exploit the way the agent processes symbolic links, potentially escalating their privileges to a higher level, such as administrative or root. The vulnerability requires local access and some user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R), meaning an attacker must have low privileges and interact with the system to trigger the exploit. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, as successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, modify or delete critical files, or disrupt backup and protection services provided by the agent. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the presence of this vulnerability in a widely used backup and cyber protection agent makes it a significant risk. The agent's role in managing backups and security means that compromise could lead to data loss, unauthorized data access, or disruption of business continuity. The vulnerability affects all major operating systems supported by the agent, increasing the scope of affected systems. The lack of a published patch link suggests that remediation may require coordination with Acronis or waiting for an official update release.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is considerable due to the widespread use of Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud Agent in enterprise environments for backup and cybersecurity management. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation, enabling attackers to bypass security controls, access sensitive data, or disrupt backup operations. This is particularly critical for organizations subject to strict data protection regulations such as GDPR, where data integrity and availability are paramount. The compromise of backup agents could also facilitate ransomware attacks or data tampering, severely affecting business continuity and trust. Additionally, industries with high compliance requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, could face regulatory penalties and reputational damage if exploited. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that organizations with heterogeneous IT environments are at risk across their entire infrastructure.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately verify the version/build number of Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud Agent deployed and prioritize upgrading to build 40296 or later once available. 2) Implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges, minimizing the number of users who can execute or interact with the agent. 3) Monitor systems for unusual symbolic link activity or privilege escalation attempts using endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools. 4) Employ application whitelisting and integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to agent files or configurations. 5) Isolate critical backup servers and agents within segmented network zones to reduce lateral movement risk. 6) Engage with Acronis support for any interim patches or recommended configuration changes until an official patch is released. 7) Conduct user awareness training to reduce risky behaviors that could facilitate local exploitation. 8) Regularly audit and review local user accounts and permissions to ensure least privilege principles are enforced.