CVE-2025-2425 in NOD32 Antivirus
Summary
by MITRE • 07/18/2025
Time-of-check to time-of-use race condition vulnerability potentially allowed an attacker to use the installed ESET security software to clear the content of an arbitrary file on the file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical time-of-check to time-of-use race condition within ESET security software that fundamentally undermines the integrity of file system operations. The flaw occurs when the security software performs a check on file permissions or attributes at one moment in time, only to subsequently access or modify the same file at a later moment, creating a window where malicious actors can manipulate the file system state between these two operations. This specific vulnerability allows an attacker to leverage the installed ESET security software as an attack vector to clear arbitrary file contents, effectively enabling unauthorized data destruction and potential system compromise.
The technical implementation of this race condition exploits the inherent timing discrepancies in how ESET handles file operations within its security framework. When the security software validates file access permissions or security attributes, it establishes a baseline state that may be subsequently altered by an attacker before the actual file manipulation occurs. This creates a window where an attacker can replace or modify the target file content during the brief interval between the permission check and the actual file operation. The vulnerability specifically affects the file system manipulation capabilities of ESET's security modules, allowing for arbitrary file content deletion through the software's legitimate security interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file deletion, as it provides attackers with a sophisticated method for system compromise and data destruction. An attacker who successfully exploits this race condition can effectively bypass file system protections and security controls implemented by ESET, potentially leading to complete data loss, system instability, or the ability to hide malicious activities by deleting forensic evidence. This vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise environments where ESET security software is widely deployed, as it allows attackers to target critical system files, configuration data, or user information. The attack vector is especially concerning because it leverages legitimate security software tools, making the malicious activity appear as normal security operations and complicating detection efforts.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-367, which specifically addresses time-of-check to time-of-use race conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1485, which covers data destruction techniques. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through legitimate software interfaces, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise security environments. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patch updates from ESET, monitoring for unauthorized file system changes, and enhanced security controls around critical file system operations. Additionally, network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact of such exploits, while regular security audits and monitoring of security software logs should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.