CVE-2025-7007 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability classified under CWE-476 affecting Avast Antivirus products on macOS (version 16.0.0) and Linux (version 3.0.3). The flaw arises during the scanning of malformed Windows Portable Executable (PE) files, which triggers a NULL pointer dereference in the antivirus process, leading to a crash. This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker who can supply a crafted PE file to the antivirus scanner, causing denial of service by crashing the antivirus process. The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.5 (high), reflecting the significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high). The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R), with high attack complexity (AC:H). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the vulnerable component. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a risk of antivirus failure, potentially allowing malware to evade detection or cause system instability. The absence of patch links suggests that fixes may not yet be publicly available, emphasizing the need for vigilance and interim mitigations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to significant operational disruptions, especially in environments relying on Avast Antivirus on macOS and Linux platforms. The antivirus process crash can cause temporary loss of malware detection capabilities, increasing the risk of undetected infections and potential data breaches. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems are all at risk due to the possibility of malware bypassing antivirus defenses or causing system instability. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions that depend on continuous endpoint protection may experience increased exposure to threats. Additionally, the requirement for local access and user interaction means insider threats or social engineering attacks could exploit this vulnerability. The lack of current public exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits over time.

Organizations should proactively monitor Avast’s security advisories for patches addressing CVE-2025-7007 and apply updates promptly once available. Until patches are released, restrict the scanning of untrusted or suspicious Windows PE files on macOS and Linux systems by configuring antivirus exclusions or sandboxing scanning processes. Implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges and reduce the risk of malicious file introduction. Enhance user awareness training to prevent opening or executing untrusted files that could trigger the vulnerability. Employ additional endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for abnormal antivirus process crashes or suspicious activity. Regularly review antivirus logs for signs of crashes or scanning failures. Consider deploying layered security controls to compensate for potential antivirus downtime. Finally, maintain robust backup and recovery procedures to mitigate the impact of potential malware infections exploiting this vulnerability.