CVE-2025-5028 is a vulnerability identified in the installation file of ESET NOD32 Antivirus products on Windows platforms. The core issue is classified under CWE-269, which pertains to improper privilege management. Specifically, this vulnerability allows an attacker with limited privileges to misuse the installation process to delete arbitrary files on the system, even if the attacker does not have the necessary permissions to perform such deletions under normal circumstances. The vulnerability arises from the installation file's failure to correctly enforce privilege checks before allowing file deletion operations. According to the CVSS 4.0 vector, the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:L indicates low privileges, not none), and user interaction (UI:A). The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality and integrity of the system with high impact on both, as arbitrary file deletion can lead to denial of service or tampering with critical files. The vulnerability does not require authentication but does require some user interaction, such as running the installer or triggering the vulnerable functionality. No known exploits are currently in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The affected versions are not explicitly detailed beyond the indication of version '0', suggesting the vulnerability may be present in initial or early versions of the product or the installation file. This vulnerability is significant because ESET NOD32 Antivirus is widely used for endpoint protection, and exploitation could undermine the security posture by allowing attackers to delete critical files, potentially disabling security features or causing system instability.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate to high risk. The ability to delete arbitrary files without proper permissions can lead to disruption of security services, data loss, or system instability. In environments where ESET NOD32 Antivirus is deployed, attackers could leverage this vulnerability to disable antivirus protections or delete critical system or application files, increasing the risk of further compromise. This is particularly concerning for sectors with high security requirements such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. Additionally, since the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, it could be exploited through social engineering or insider threats. The impact on confidentiality is indirect but possible if deletion of security logs or audit files occurs. Integrity is directly affected due to unauthorized file deletion, and availability can be impacted if critical files are removed, potentially causing denial of service. European organizations with distributed endpoints and remote workforces may face challenges in quickly mitigating this vulnerability, increasing exposure time.

Organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Monitor for updates and patches from ESET and apply them immediately once available. 2) Restrict local user permissions to the minimum necessary, preventing users from executing or interacting with installation files unnecessarily. 3) Implement application whitelisting to control execution of installers and related files. 4) Educate users about the risks of running untrusted installers or interacting with unexpected prompts to reduce the likelihood of exploitation via social engineering. 5) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious file deletion activities, especially those initiated by the ESET installer process. 6) Conduct regular backups of critical files and system states to enable recovery in case of malicious deletion. 7) Use system integrity monitoring tools to detect unauthorized changes to critical files. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling installer execution, user education, and proactive monitoring tailored to the nature of this vulnerability.