CVE-2025-48982 in Veeam
Summary
by MITRE • 10/31/2025
This vulnerability in Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows allows for Local Privilege Escalation if a system administrator is tricked into restoring a malicious file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2025
CVE-2025-48982 represents a critical local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows installations. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms during the file restoration process, creating an exploitable condition where malicious files can be restored with elevated privileges. The flaw specifically manifests when system administrators perform restore operations, as the agent fails to properly verify the integrity and authenticity of restored files before executing them with administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, representing an out-of-bounds write condition that can be leveraged for privilege escalation. Attackers can craft malicious files designed to exploit the restore functionality, potentially executing code with SYSTEM level privileges. The vulnerability exploits the trust relationship between the Veeam agent and the system administrator, relying on social engineering to compromise the restoration process. This attack vector operates through the principle of privilege delegation where the agent's restoration capabilities are abused to elevate privileges beyond the intended scope of the administrator's actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially enabling complete system compromise and data exfiltration. Once escalated to SYSTEM level privileges, attackers can modify critical system files, install backdoors, manipulate backup configurations, and access sensitive data that would otherwise remain protected. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on Veeam Agent for Windows backup solutions, particularly those with administrators who regularly perform restore operations. The attack requires minimal technical expertise beyond creating malicious restore files and convincing administrators to execute the restoration process, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative procedures are not strictly enforced.
Mitigation strategies must address both the immediate vulnerability and broader security posture of affected environments. Organizations should implement strict access controls and least privilege principles for administrative accounts, ensuring that only authorized personnel perform restore operations with elevated privileges. The Veeam agent should be configured with enhanced file validation mechanisms and integrity checks before any restoration process is initiated. System administrators must be trained to recognize potential social engineering attempts and verify the authenticity of all restore files before execution. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring restore activities through security information and event management systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure restoration processes and the need for comprehensive security controls around backup and recovery operations, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for execution through command and scripting interpreter and T1548.002 for privilege escalation through abuse of system permissions.