CVE-2025-53503 is a high-severity privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Trend Micro Cleaner One Pro version 6.8. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-64, which relates to improper handling of Windows shortcut (.LNK) files. Specifically, this flaw allows a local attacker to exploit the way the software processes .LNK files to unintentionally delete privileged Trend Micro files, including those belonging to the Cleaner One Pro application itself. The deletion of these critical files can lead to a compromise of the software’s integrity and availability, potentially disabling security functions or causing system instability. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects the significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with an attack vector limited to local access (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L), and low privileges (PR:L), but no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is confined to the vulnerable component. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild yet, the vulnerability’s nature suggests that an attacker with local access could leverage it to escalate privileges and disrupt security operations by deleting key files. This vulnerability highlights the risk of improper handling of Windows shortcut files, which can be manipulated to perform unintended file operations under elevated privileges.

For European organizations using Trend Micro Cleaner One Pro 6.8, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. The ability for a local attacker to escalate privileges and delete privileged security files can lead to disabling or bypassing endpoint protection mechanisms, exposing systems to further compromise. This can result in loss of data confidentiality, integrity breaches, and availability issues due to corrupted or missing security components. Organizations in sectors with strict regulatory requirements such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure could face compliance violations and operational disruptions. Additionally, the local attack vector means that insider threats or attackers who gain initial footholds on endpoints could exploit this vulnerability to deepen their access and control. The absence of user interaction requirement increases the risk of automated or stealthy exploitation once local access is obtained. Given the widespread use of Trend Micro products in Europe, this vulnerability could have broad implications if not promptly addressed.

To mitigate CVE-2025-53503, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Apply any patches or updates released by Trend Micro as soon as they become available, even though no patch links are currently provided, monitoring vendor advisories closely. 2) Restrict local access to systems running Trend Micro Cleaner One Pro to trusted users only, implementing strict access controls and monitoring for unusual file operations involving .LNK files. 3) Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block suspicious activities related to shortcut file manipulations. 4) Conduct regular integrity checks on Trend Micro files and configurations to detect unauthorized deletions or modifications. 5) Educate IT and security teams about the risks associated with .LNK file handling and privilege escalation tactics to improve incident response readiness. 6) Consider deploying additional host-based protections such as enhanced file system permissions and sandboxing to limit the impact of potential exploitation. These targeted measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access, monitoring shortcut file usage, and maintaining the integrity of security software components.