CVE-2025-48982 is a vulnerability identified in Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows version 4.7.2 that enables local privilege escalation (LPE). The flaw arises when a system administrator is tricked into restoring a maliciously crafted file using the Veeam Agent. This malicious file can exploit the vulnerability to elevate privileges from a limited user context to higher system privileges, potentially SYSTEM level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L), and privileges already limited (PR:L), with user interaction (UI:R) necessary, specifically the administrator initiating the restore. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high impact) because an attacker gaining elevated privileges can access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or disrupt backup and recovery operations. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management). No patches are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the risk is significant given the critical role of backup agents in enterprise environments. The vulnerability was reserved in May 2025 and published in October 2025, indicating recent discovery. Veeam Agent is widely used in enterprise backup solutions, making this vulnerability relevant for organizations relying on Veeam for data protection on Windows endpoints.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Veeam Agent in enterprise backup and disaster recovery operations. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized privilege escalation, allowing attackers to compromise backup integrity, access sensitive data, or disrupt recovery processes. This can result in data breaches, operational downtime, and loss of trust. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government agencies that rely heavily on backup solutions are particularly vulnerable. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but insider threats or social engineering attacks targeting system administrators could trigger the vulnerability. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, potentially leading to severe operational and compliance consequences under regulations like GDPR.

1. Monitor Veeam’s official channels closely for patches addressing CVE-2025-48982 and apply them promptly once released. 2. Restrict restore operations to a minimal number of trusted and trained system administrators to reduce the risk of social engineering. 3. Implement strict access controls and auditing on backup and restore operations to detect suspicious activities early. 4. Use endpoint protection and application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized or malicious files. 5. Educate administrators about the risks of restoring files from untrusted sources and enforce verification procedures before restoration. 6. Consider isolating backup management consoles and agents from general user environments to limit local access. 7. Regularly review and update privilege assignments to ensure least privilege principles are enforced. 8. Employ multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts involved in backup operations to reduce risk of credential compromise.