CVE-2025-9267 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Seagate Toolkit on Windows platforms, specifically in versions prior to 2.35.0.6. The vulnerability arises from insecure DLL loading practices in the Toolkit Installer, where the installer attempts to load dynamic link libraries (DLLs) from the current working directory without validating their origin or integrity. This behavior is classified under CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element) and CWE-426 (Untrusted Search Path). An attacker can exploit this by placing a malicious DLL in the same directory as the installer executable. When the installer runs, it inadvertently loads the malicious DLL, resulting in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the installer. The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges to exploit but does require user interaction to run the installer. The CVSS 4.0 score is 7.0, reflecting a high severity level, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:H indicates high privileges required, but this seems inconsistent with the description; assuming the user runs the installer with their privileges), and user interaction required (UI:P). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all high impact). No known exploits are currently in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The root cause is the use of relative or incomplete paths when loading system libraries, which allows DLL hijacking attacks. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can lead to full compromise of the affected system under the context of the user running the installer, potentially allowing lateral movement or persistence if the user has administrative rights.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially in environments where Seagate Toolkit is used for managing external storage devices or backups. The arbitrary code execution can lead to unauthorized access, data theft, or disruption of backup operations, impacting business continuity and data integrity. Organizations with less stringent endpoint security controls or those that allow users to run installers without administrative oversight are particularly vulnerable. The risk is amplified in sectors handling sensitive data such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, where data confidentiality and availability are paramount. Additionally, since the vulnerability requires user interaction, phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to trick users into running the compromised installer, increasing the attack surface. The lack of a patch at the time of disclosure means organizations must rely on mitigations and monitoring to reduce risk. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks within corporate networks, especially if the user has elevated privileges.

1. Immediately restrict the execution of installers from untrusted directories, especially those downloaded from the internet or received via email. 2. Implement application whitelisting to ensure only verified installers and executables run on endpoints. 3. Educate users to avoid running installers from unknown or suspicious sources and to verify the integrity of installation files before execution. 4. Use endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting DLL hijacking or anomalous DLL loads. 5. Employ network segmentation to limit the impact of a compromised endpoint. 6. Monitor system and application logs for unusual DLL loading behavior or installer execution from non-standard directories. 7. Until a patch is available, consider deploying the Toolkit Installer only from secure, controlled directories with fully qualified paths and avoid running it from user-writable locations. 8. Coordinate with Seagate for timely updates and apply patches as soon as they are released. 9. Use Windows security features such as Controlled Folder Access and Windows Defender Application Control to reduce the risk of unauthorized code execution.