CVE-2025-7433: CWE-502 Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Sophos Sophos Intercept X for Windows
A local privilege escalation vulnerability in Sophos Intercept X for Windows with Central Device Encryption 2025.1 and older allows arbitrary code execution.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-7433 is a high-severity local privilege escalation vulnerability identified in Sophos Intercept X for Windows, specifically versions 2025.1 and older that include Central Device Encryption. The root cause is a CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, which occurs when the software processes serialized data from an untrusted source without proper validation or sanitization. This flaw enables an attacker with local access and low privileges to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining full control over the affected system. The vulnerability's CVSS 3.1 score is 8.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no user interaction required. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component. Although no public exploits are currently known, the nature of deserialization vulnerabilities often allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that trigger code execution. Given the integration with Central Device Encryption, exploitation could also compromise encrypted data or security controls, exacerbating the impact.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Sophos Intercept X as an endpoint protection solution. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of business operations, and potential breach of compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations. The ability to escalate privileges locally means that even limited access by an insider or through a secondary compromise could be leveraged to gain administrative control. This could facilitate lateral movement within networks, data exfiltration, or deployment of ransomware. The presence of Central Device Encryption in the affected product increases the risk of encryption keys or protected data being exposed or manipulated. The impact is particularly critical for sectors with high security requirements such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure within Europe.
Mitigation Recommendations
Organizations should prioritize updating Sophos Intercept X for Windows to the latest patched version once available from Sophos. Until a patch is released, implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges and restrict access to systems running the vulnerable software. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts. Conduct thorough audits of user accounts and permissions to minimize the risk of privilege escalation. Additionally, isolate critical systems and encrypt sensitive data separately to reduce the impact of a potential breach. Regularly review and update security policies to ensure rapid response to emerging threats. Engage with Sophos support for any interim mitigation guidance and monitor threat intelligence feeds for exploit developments.
Affected Countries
United Kingdom, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Belgium
CVE-2025-7433: CWE-502 Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Sophos Sophos Intercept X for Windows
Description
A local privilege escalation vulnerability in Sophos Intercept X for Windows with Central Device Encryption 2025.1 and older allows arbitrary code execution.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-7433 is a high-severity local privilege escalation vulnerability identified in Sophos Intercept X for Windows, specifically versions 2025.1 and older that include Central Device Encryption. The root cause is a CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, which occurs when the software processes serialized data from an untrusted source without proper validation or sanitization. This flaw enables an attacker with local access and low privileges to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining full control over the affected system. The vulnerability's CVSS 3.1 score is 8.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no user interaction required. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component. Although no public exploits are currently known, the nature of deserialization vulnerabilities often allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that trigger code execution. Given the integration with Central Device Encryption, exploitation could also compromise encrypted data or security controls, exacerbating the impact.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Sophos Intercept X as an endpoint protection solution. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of business operations, and potential breach of compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations. The ability to escalate privileges locally means that even limited access by an insider or through a secondary compromise could be leveraged to gain administrative control. This could facilitate lateral movement within networks, data exfiltration, or deployment of ransomware. The presence of Central Device Encryption in the affected product increases the risk of encryption keys or protected data being exposed or manipulated. The impact is particularly critical for sectors with high security requirements such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure within Europe.
Mitigation Recommendations
Organizations should prioritize updating Sophos Intercept X for Windows to the latest patched version once available from Sophos. Until a patch is released, implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges and restrict access to systems running the vulnerable software. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts. Conduct thorough audits of user accounts and permissions to minimize the risk of privilege escalation. Additionally, isolate critical systems and encrypt sensitive data separately to reduce the impact of a potential breach. Regularly review and update security policies to ensure rapid response to emerging threats. Engage with Sophos support for any interim mitigation guidance and monitor threat intelligence feeds for exploit developments.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- Sophos
- Date Reserved
- 2025-07-10T14:55:24.847Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 68794c09a83201eaace85098
Added to database: 7/17/2025, 7:16:25 PM
Last enriched: 7/17/2025, 7:31:13 PM
Last updated: 8/12/2025, 7:37:03 PM
Views: 27
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