CVE-2025-54948 is an OS command injection vulnerability identified in the Trend Micro Apex One on-premise management console, specifically affecting version 2019 (14.0). The flaw allows a remote attacker to upload malicious code and execute arbitrary commands on the affected system without requiring any authentication or user interaction. This vulnerability arises due to insufficient input validation in the management console's handling of certain inputs, enabling attackers to inject operating system commands. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.4, reflecting its critical nature, with attack vector as network (AV:N), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts on confidentiality (high), integrity (low), and availability (high). Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, disruption of endpoint security services, and potential lateral movement within the network. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the severity and ease of exploitation make it a significant threat. Trend Micro Apex One is widely used by enterprises for endpoint protection, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where the management console is exposed or insufficiently protected. The lack of an available patch at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate risk mitigation strategies to prevent exploitation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a high risk due to the critical role Trend Micro Apex One plays in endpoint security management. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized command execution on the management console, compromising the confidentiality of sensitive data managed by the console, including security policies and endpoint telemetry. Integrity of security configurations could be undermined, potentially disabling or altering protection mechanisms. Availability impact is also significant, as attackers could disrupt endpoint security services, leading to increased exposure to malware and other threats. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are particularly vulnerable due to the sensitive nature of their data and the reliance on robust endpoint security. The pre-authentication nature of the exploit increases the attack surface, especially if the management console is accessible from less secure network segments or exposed to the internet. This could facilitate rapid spread and impact across multiple systems within an enterprise network.

1. Immediately implement network segmentation to isolate the Trend Micro Apex One management console from untrusted networks and restrict access to trusted administrators only. 2. Employ strict firewall rules and access control lists (ACLs) to limit inbound connections to the management console to known IP addresses. 3. Monitor network and system logs for unusual activities indicative of command injection attempts or unauthorized access. 4. Disable any unnecessary services or interfaces on the management console to reduce the attack surface. 5. Apply principle of least privilege to all accounts with access to the management console, ensuring strong authentication mechanisms are in place. 6. Regularly back up configuration and security policy data to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. 7. Stay informed on vendor communications and apply security patches or updates as soon as they become available. 8. Conduct internal penetration testing and vulnerability assessments focusing on the management console to identify and remediate potential weaknesses. 9. Consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) or intrusion prevention systems (IPS) that can detect and block command injection attempts targeting the management console.