CVE-2025-49216 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability identified in Trend Micro Endpoint Encryption Policy Server version 6.0. The root cause is the use of an obsolete function (classified under CWE-477: Use of Obsolete Function) within the product's authentication mechanism. This flaw allows an attacker to bypass authentication controls entirely, granting unauthorized access to key administrative methods. Consequently, an attacker can modify product configurations, potentially disabling encryption policies or altering security settings. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8, indicating critical severity with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requiring no privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N), making exploitation straightforward and remotely feasible. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the ease of exploitation and the critical nature of the affected component make this a significant threat. Trend Micro Endpoint Encryption Policy Server is a central management component for endpoint encryption, widely used in enterprise environments to enforce data protection policies. Compromise of this server can lead to widespread decryption of sensitive data, exposure of encryption keys, and disruption of endpoint security enforcement across an organization.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is substantial. Endpoint encryption is a cornerstone of data protection strategies, especially under stringent regulations such as the EU's GDPR. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized decryption of sensitive personal and corporate data, resulting in data breaches with severe legal and financial consequences. Integrity of security policies can be undermined, allowing attackers to disable or weaken encryption enforcement silently. Availability of the encryption management service could also be disrupted, impairing the organization's ability to manage endpoint security effectively. Given the critical nature of the vulnerability and the lack of required authentication or user interaction, attackers could remotely compromise systems at scale. This poses a heightened risk to sectors with high-value data assets, including finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure within Europe.

Organizations should immediately verify if they are running Trend Micro Endpoint Encryption Policy Server version 6.0 and prioritize patching once an official update is released by Trend Micro. In the absence of a patch, implement network-level mitigations such as restricting access to the Policy Server management interface to trusted internal IP addresses and enforcing strict firewall rules. Employ network segmentation to isolate the encryption management server from less secure network zones. Monitor logs and network traffic for anomalous access patterns or unauthorized configuration changes. Consider deploying intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with signatures tuned to detect exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Additionally, review and tighten administrative access controls and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all management interfaces to reduce risk exposure. Engage with Trend Micro support for any available workarounds or interim security advisories. Finally, prepare incident response plans specifically addressing potential compromise scenarios involving encryption management infrastructure.