CVE-2025-54569 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability identified in Malwarebytes Binisoft Windows Firewall Control versions prior to 6.16.0.0. The vulnerability stems from incorrect authorization checks (classified under CWE-863) within the installer component of the software. Specifically, the installer fails to properly enforce authorization controls, allowing a local attacker without prior privileges to escalate their permissions on the affected system. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.5, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring the attacker to have local access to the machine, and the attack complexity is high (AC:H), meaning exploitation requires specific conditions or knowledge. No privileges are required initially (PR:N), and no user interaction is needed (UI:N). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is low (C:L, I:L), with no impact on availability (A:N). This vulnerability could allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges, potentially enabling them to modify firewall rules or system configurations, which could lead to further compromise or persistence on the system. However, exploitation is limited by the need for local access and high complexity, and no known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The lack of a patch link suggests that remediation may require updating to version 6.16.0.0 or later once available.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to endpoints running vulnerable versions of Malwarebytes Binisoft Windows Firewall Control. If exploited, an attacker with local access could escalate privileges, potentially bypassing security controls enforced by the firewall software. This could lead to unauthorized changes in firewall configurations, weakening network defenses and increasing the risk of lateral movement or data exfiltration. Organizations with high endpoint density and those relying on Malwarebytes products for firewall management are particularly at risk. The impact is more pronounced in environments where endpoint physical or remote local access is possible, such as shared workstations or poorly secured remote access setups. However, the high complexity and local access requirements limit widespread exploitation, reducing the likelihood of large-scale attacks. Still, targeted attacks against critical infrastructure or sensitive environments could leverage this vulnerability to gain footholds or persistence.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading Malwarebytes Binisoft Windows Firewall Control to version 6.16.0.0 or later as soon as the patch is available. Until then, organizations should enforce strict local access controls, including limiting physical and remote access to endpoints, implementing strong user authentication, and monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation attempts. Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that can detect anomalous installer behaviors or privilege escalation attempts is recommended. Additionally, organizations should audit and restrict software installation privileges to trusted administrators only, reducing the attack surface. Regularly reviewing firewall configurations and logs can help detect unauthorized changes that might indicate exploitation. Finally, educating users about the risks of local access and enforcing least privilege principles will further reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation.