A vulnerability was found in IObit Protected Folder up to 13.6.0.5. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function 0x8001E000/0x8001E00C/0x8001E004/0x8001E010 in the library IURegistryFilter.sys of the component IOCTL Handler. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. Local access is required to approach this attack. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 6.8, indicating a medium severity level. This rating suggests that while the vulnerability poses a risk, it requires local access to exploit, which might limit its immediate impact.
Risk to organizations includes potential denial of service through high impact on availability. Given the nature of the vulnerability, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Currently, there are no known exploits available in the public domain, and the vulnerability is not listed as actively exploited in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
Defenders should remain vigilant and ensure that all systems running IObit Protected Folder are updated to the latest versions to avoid exposure to this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability allows for null pointer dereference, which can lead to service disruptions. This flaw is associated with the IOCTL Handler within the IURegistryFilter.sys library. The CVE-2025-0223 is officially published on January 5, 2025.
Affected product: IObit Protected Folder.
CWE classifications for this vulnerability include CWE-404 and CWE-476.
Technical Analysis
Root cause analysis reveals that the vulnerability stems from improper handling of null pointers in the code. Attackers with local access can exploit this flaw, leading to potential service outages.
The attack vector is local, requiring low complexity, and only low privileges are necessary to execute the attack. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
The availability impact is classified as high, indicating that successful exploitation could cause significant disruptions to service.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment risk is moderate as local access is required for exploitation. However, organizations that utilize IObit Protected Folder should be aware of the potential for service interruptions, which can affect overall operations.
The urgency assessment based on the CVSS score indicates that organizations should address this vulnerability in priority patch cycles.
Given the potential for local exploitation, the blast radius could be significant within affected environments, emphasizing the importance of prompt remediation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions prior to vendor patch: IObit Protected Folder versions up to 13.6.0.5 are affected.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching IObit Protected Folder to version 13.6.0.6 or later. If a patch is unavailable, limiting user access and applying strict file permissions may help mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.
For a comprehensive approach to security, consider engaging in penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses.
Detection Guidance
Monitor logs for irregular access patterns, particularly around file handling operations in the IObit Protected Folder. Look for behavioral anomalies that could indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
This vulnerability represents an ongoing risk for organizations using IObit Protected Folder. Security teams should be proactive in monitoring their environments for potential exploitation attempts and consider revising their security strategies.
For deeper insights into vulnerability management, organizations may benefit from consulting resources on vulnerability management programs and how to integrate penetration testing into their security posture.
Additionally, organizations should stay informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities by following trends in vulnerability exposure and enhancing their incident response capabilities.
Lastly, leveraging insights from penetration testing methodologies can significantly improve the overall security posture against vulnerabilities such as CVE-2025-0223.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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