CVE-2025-53425 is a vulnerability in the Dokan library, a user-mode filesystem driver for Windows that allows developers to create virtual filesystems. The flaw is due to incorrect privilege assignment in Dokan Lite versions up to 4.1.2, enabling privilege escalation. Specifically, an attacker with some level of privileges (PR:L) can exploit this vulnerability remotely (AV:N) without user interaction (UI:N) and with low attack complexity (AC:L). The vulnerability affects confidentiality (C:H), integrity (I:L), and availability (A:L), with the most severe impact on confidentiality. This means an attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or system resources by elevating their privileges beyond intended limits. Although no public exploits are known yet, the vulnerability's characteristics suggest it could be weaponized to compromise systems running Dokan-based applications or services. Dokan is widely used in Windows environments for virtual filesystem implementations, including cloud storage synchronization, backup solutions, and security software. The vulnerability's exploitation could allow attackers to bypass security controls, access restricted files, or disrupt system operations. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in October 2025, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. No official patches are currently linked, so organizations must monitor vendor advisories closely. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.6 classifies this as a high-severity issue, reflecting the ease of exploitation and significant impact on confidentiality.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-53425 can be substantial, particularly for those relying on Dokan for critical infrastructure such as cloud storage, backup services, or security applications. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, data leakage, or disruption of services, undermining confidentiality and availability. This is especially concerning for sectors handling sensitive personal data under GDPR, such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies. The ability to escalate privileges remotely without user interaction increases the risk of widespread compromise within enterprise networks. Additionally, the integrity impact, while lower, still poses risks to system stability and trustworthiness of data. Organizations may face regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and operational downtime if the vulnerability is exploited. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the vulnerability’s characteristics suggest it could be targeted in future attacks. European entities with extensive Windows-based environments and virtualization deployments are particularly vulnerable.

1. Monitor vendor communications and apply official patches or updates for Dokan as soon as they become available. 2. Restrict network access to systems running Dokan components, especially limiting exposure to untrusted networks. 3. Implement strict access controls and least privilege principles for users and processes interacting with Dokan-based filesystems. 4. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous privilege escalation attempts. 5. Conduct regular audits of user privileges and system logs to identify suspicious activities related to Dokan usage. 6. If patching is delayed, consider isolating or disabling Dokan-dependent services where feasible to reduce attack surface. 7. Educate IT and security teams about this vulnerability to improve incident response readiness. 8. Use network segmentation to limit lateral movement opportunities if exploitation occurs. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling access to Dokan components and enhancing detection capabilities specific to privilege escalation behaviors.