CVE-2025-0145 is classified as a medium-severity vulnerability affecting several Zoom Workplace Apps for Windows. This vulnerability allows authorized users to conduct an escalation of privilege via local access due to an untrusted search path in the installer. The CVSS score of 4.6 indicates a moderate risk, with potential impacts on the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems.
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive data and potential misuse of application functionality. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it is crucial for organizations to address this issue promptly. The publication date of this vulnerability was January 30, 2025, emphasizing the need for swift action to mitigate risks.
Currently, there are no known exploits for this vulnerability, but organizations should prioritize patching as part of their security protocols. In light of the analysis, organizations should address this vulnerability within their priority patch cycle.
This vulnerability is particularly concerning for environments that utilize Zoom's Workplace Apps. Organizations leveraging these applications should remain vigilant and ensure they are operating on the latest patched versions to avoid potential exploitation.
Vulnerability Details
The untrusted search path vulnerability in the installer for some Zoom Workplace Apps for Windows can allow an authorized user to escalate privileges. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-426, indicating a potential weakness in the application's installation process.
According to NVD, the CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.8, indicating a high severity level, with impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability being high. The attack vector is local, and it requires low privileges with no user interaction necessary.
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability arises from an improper handling of search paths during the installation of the affected Zoom applications. Attackers may leverage this flaw by placing malicious files in a location that the installer accesses, leading to privilege escalation.
The attack complexity is low, with required privileges being low as well. This means that even users with minimal access can potentially exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, the attack requires user interaction to initiate the installation process.
The impacts of this vulnerability include low integrity and availability impacts, indicating that while the system may remain operational, unauthorized modifications to the application can lead to data leaks or unauthorized actions.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment risk for this vulnerability is significant, especially in organizations that rely heavily on Zoom's applications for collaboration and communication. The blast radius is considerable, as many users may have access to the affected systems.
Given the current CVSS score of 4.6 and the presence of a high CVSS score of 7.8 from NVD, organizations should assess their exposure and prioritize remediation. The lack of known exploits should not lead to complacency, as vulnerabilities can be weaponized quickly.
Organizations should schedule remediation as part of their ongoing security maintenance, ensuring that they are protected from potential exploitation of this vulnerability.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects multiple components of Zoom's software, including the meeting software development kit, rooms, rooms controller, video software development kit, workplace desktop, and workplace virtual desktop infrastructure. All versions prior to 6.2.5 for the first five components and prior to 6.1.13 for the last component are vulnerable.
Mitigation & Remediation
Zoom has released patches for the affected components. Organizations should update to version 6.2.5 or later for the first five components and version 6.1.13 or later for the workplace virtual desktop infrastructure. If updates cannot be applied immediately, organizations should implement configuration hardening to limit access to the installer and monitor for any unusual behavior.
Additionally, organizations may benefit from conducting a security assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses. For comprehensive validation of security measures, organizations can consider engaging in application security assessment to ensure robust defenses.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for any unauthorized access attempts or changes to system configurations related to Zoom applications. Behavioral anomalies during the installation process or unusual application behavior can indicate potential exploitation attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The significance of CVE-2025-0145 lies in its potential to impact a broad range of organizations using Zoom's applications for collaboration. This vulnerability represents a trend towards increasing privilege escalation risks in widely used applications.
Security teams should take this vulnerability as a wake-up call to review their security posture regarding third-party application installations. Regular security assessments and updates are crucial in mitigating risks associated with software vulnerabilities.
For further insights on vulnerability management best practices, organizations can refer to our guide on vulnerability management programs and consider incorporating continuous security measures into their operations.
With the evolving threat landscape, keeping abreast of vulnerabilities and ensuring timely remediation is vital for maintaining organizational security.
Lastly, for organizations involved in cloud services, guidelines on cloud security assessments can provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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