CVE-2025-53769 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-73 (External Control of File Name or Path) affecting the Microsoft Windows Security App version 1000.0.0.0. This vulnerability allows an authorized local attacker with low privileges to manipulate file names or paths that the Windows Security App uses, enabling spoofing attacks. Spoofing here refers to deceiving the user or the system by presenting falsified information or interfaces, potentially undermining trust in security alerts or status indicators. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require the attacker to have some level of local access (low privileges). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, indicating a medium severity level, with a vector showing local attack vector, low attack complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, high confidentiality impact, and no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches have been released at the time of publication. The vulnerability was reserved in early July 2025 and published in August 2025. The technical root cause is the external control over file names or paths used by the Windows Security App, which can be manipulated to cause spoofing. This could lead to users being misled by falsified security information or alerts, potentially causing them to ignore genuine threats or take incorrect actions.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-53769 is the potential for local spoofing attacks that could undermine user trust in the Windows Security App. This could lead to users ignoring legitimate security warnings or being misled by falsified alerts, increasing the risk of successful attacks such as malware infections or unauthorized access. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise system integrity or availability, the confidentiality impact is high because spoofed information could expose sensitive security status or mislead security personnel. Organizations with many local users or shared workstations are at higher risk, especially if local user privileges are not tightly controlled. Critical infrastructure sectors relying heavily on Windows environments, such as finance, healthcare, and government, could face increased risk if attackers exploit this vulnerability to bypass or confuse security monitoring. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the presence of this vulnerability in a widely used security component means that targeted attackers with local access could leverage it for stealthier attacks.

To mitigate CVE-2025-53769, European organizations should implement strict local user privilege management to limit the ability of low-privilege users to manipulate file paths or names used by the Windows Security App. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection solutions to monitor and alert on suspicious file system activities related to the Windows Security App directories. Conduct regular audits of local user permissions and remove unnecessary privileges. Educate users about the risks of local spoofing and encourage vigilance regarding unexpected or unusual security alerts. Until an official patch is released, consider isolating critical systems or using virtualization to reduce exposure. Monitor Microsoft security advisories closely and apply patches promptly once available. Additionally, organizations can implement file integrity monitoring on Windows Security App files and related directories to detect unauthorized changes. Employing enhanced logging and correlation with SIEM tools can help detect attempts to exploit this vulnerability.