CVE-2025-49158 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element) affecting Trend Micro Apex One security agent version 2019 (14.0). This vulnerability arises due to the software improperly handling the search path for executable files or libraries, allowing a local attacker with low-privileged code execution capabilities to escalate their privileges on the affected system. Specifically, the vulnerability enables an attacker who already has limited access to the system to manipulate the search path environment variables or place malicious executables in locations that the Apex One agent trusts and loads from, thereby executing arbitrary code with elevated privileges. Exploitation requires that the attacker first gain the ability to run code with low privileges on the target machine, which could be achieved through other means such as phishing, exploiting other vulnerabilities, or insider threats. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.7, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates that the attack vector is local, requires high attack complexity, low privileges, and user interaction, with unchanged scope but high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigation links have been published yet. The vulnerability affects a widely used enterprise endpoint security product, which is critical for protecting organizational assets from malware and other threats. The uncontrolled search path element can lead to privilege escalation, potentially allowing attackers to disable security controls, access sensitive data, or disrupt system operations.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-49158 could be significant, especially for those relying on Trend Micro Apex One for endpoint protection. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to elevate privileges from a low-privileged user context to higher system privileges, undermining the security posture of affected endpoints. This could lead to unauthorized access to confidential data, tampering with security configurations, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks. Given that Apex One is often deployed in critical infrastructure, financial institutions, and government agencies across Europe, exploitation could disrupt business continuity and compromise sensitive information. The requirement for local access and user interaction somewhat limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, particularly in environments where users may be targeted with social engineering or where insider threats exist. Additionally, the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that successful exploitation could result in data breaches, system outages, or persistent footholds for further attacks. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but organizations should not be complacent given the medium severity and potential for future exploit development.

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-49158, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Restrict local user privileges rigorously to minimize the number of users who can execute code locally, applying the principle of least privilege. 2) Monitor and control environment variables related to search paths, especially those that can influence the behavior of security agents like Apex One. 3) Employ application whitelisting and integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to executable paths or suspicious binaries placed in search directories. 4) Conduct regular audits of endpoint security agent configurations and file system permissions to ensure no unauthorized modifications exist. 5) Educate users about the risks of running untrusted code and the importance of avoiding social engineering traps that could lead to initial low-privilege code execution. 6) Maintain a robust endpoint detection and response (EDR) capability to identify anomalous behaviors indicative of privilege escalation attempts. 7) Stay in close contact with Trend Micro for updates or patches addressing this vulnerability and plan for rapid deployment once available. 8) Consider network segmentation to limit the impact of compromised endpoints and reduce lateral movement opportunities. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling the specific attack vector (uncontrolled search path) and the prerequisite condition (local low-privilege code execution).