CVE-2025-5491
Published: 13 June 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-5491 is a high-severity Improper Privilege Management (CWE-269) vulnerability in Org (inferred from references). Its CVSS base score is 8.7 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 17.8% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
Acer ControlCenter contains a remote code execution vulnerability in which the program exposes a Windows Named Pipe that implements a custom protocol for invoking internal functions. The pipe is misconfigured, allowing remote interaction by low-privileged users and granting access to features that include execution of arbitrary programs as NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM. The flaw is tracked as CVE-2025-5491, carries a CVSS 4.0 score of 8.7, and is associated with CWE-269.
An attacker with low privileges can connect to the named pipe over the network and invoke the exposed functionality to achieve arbitrary code execution with SYSTEM-level rights on the affected host. No authentication or user interaction is required beyond the initial low-privileged access.
Public advisories published by Acer and the Taiwan Computer Emergency Response Team describe the issue and are available at the referenced URLs. The EPSS score remains flat at 0.0162 with no material rise after disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-18228
Vulnerability details
Acer ControlCenter contains Remote Code Execution vulnerability. The program exposes a Windows Named Pipe that uses a custom protocol to invoke internal functions. However, this Named Pipe is misconfigured, allowing remote users with low privileges to interact with it and…
more
access its features. One such feature enables the execution of arbitrary programs as NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM. By leveraging this, remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on the target system with elevated privileges.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Policy addresses roles, responsibilities, and privilege management to prevent improper privilege assignments.
Access supervision ensures privileges are assigned and managed without improper escalation or retention.
Assigning group/role memberships and access authorizations (privileges) while reviewing accounts addresses improper privilege management.
Enforces proper privilege management by requiring all decisions through the verified reference monitor.
By mandating division of duties across roles, the control enforces proper privilege management and prevents a single entity from controlling an entire sensitive process.
Implements core proper privilege management by restricting to only required rights.
Policy requires training on privilege management and least privilege, making it harder to exploit improper privilege management weaknesses.
Training covers proper privilege management practices, making incorrect privilege assignments less likely.