CVE-2025-9201 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in the Lenovo Browser, classified under CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element. This vulnerability stems from the browser's improper handling of DLL search paths, which can be exploited via DLL hijacking. Specifically, a local attacker with limited privileges can place a malicious DLL in a location that the Lenovo Browser searches before the legitimate DLLs, causing the browser to load and execute the attacker's code. This leads to code execution with elevated privileges, potentially allowing the attacker to compromise system integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and has a low attack complexity, but it does require local access with some privileges (PR:L). The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with no scope change or user interaction needed. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that mitigation may currently rely on workarounds or vendor updates in the near future.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially in environments where Lenovo Browser is deployed on endpoints with multiple users or where local user accounts have limited but non-trivial privileges. Successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation, enabling attackers to install persistent malware, steal sensitive data, or disrupt operations. This is particularly critical for sectors with stringent data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions within Europe. The ability to execute code with elevated privileges without user interaction increases the risk of automated or stealthy attacks. Additionally, since the vulnerability involves local access, insider threats or attackers who gain initial foothold via other means could leverage this flaw to deepen their control over affected systems.

Organizations should prioritize the following mitigations: 1) Monitor for and restrict local user permissions to the minimum necessary, reducing the pool of users who can exploit this vulnerability. 2) Implement application whitelisting and DLL loading restrictions to prevent unauthorized DLLs from being loaded by Lenovo Browser. 3) Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect anomalous DLL loading behavior indicative of hijacking attempts. 4) Until an official patch is released by Lenovo, consider disabling or limiting the use of Lenovo Browser in sensitive environments or replacing it with alternative browsers with a stronger security posture. 5) Educate users about the risks of running untrusted code locally and enforce strict controls on software installation and execution. 6) Regularly audit systems for unauthorized DLLs in directories searched by the browser. 7) Stay updated with Lenovo’s security advisories and apply patches promptly once available.