Overview
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the CVE-2025-52094 vulnerability, a critical security flaw that affects PDQ Smart Deploy V.3.0.2040. The vulnerability is of particular concern because it allows a local attacker to execute arbitrary code, which could lead to potential system compromise or data leakage.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-52094
Severity: High (CVSS: 7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
PDQ Smart Deploy | V.3.0.2040
How the Exploit Works
The CVE-2025-52094 vulnerability arises from insecure permissions in the \HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\SmartDeploy component of PDQ Smart Deploy V.3.0.2040. This flaw allows a local attacker with low privileges to execute arbitrary code. The attacker can manipulate the insecure permissions to compromise the system and potentially leak data.
Conceptual Example Code
The following pseudocode provides a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:
# pseudo code to exploit insecure permissions
def exploit(target):
# Access the HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\SmartDeploy component
component = target.get_component("\HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\SmartDeploy")
# Execute arbitrary code
component.execute("arbitrary_code")In this hypothetical example, the attacker first accesses the insecure \HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\SmartDeploy component. After gaining access, the attacker can then execute arbitrary code to compromise the system and potentially leak data.
Recommended Mitigations
The best mitigation approach to this vulnerability is to apply the vendor patch. In situations where the patch cannot be immediately applied, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation. These systems can help to detect and block attempts to exploit the vulnerability.