CVE-2025-6250: BeyondTrust Defendpoint Anti-Tamper Bypass Allows Privilege Escalation
Stay protected! A critical vulnerability in BeyondTrust Defendpoint could allow a local administrator to bypass security measures and gain elevated privileges. Read on for details, recommendations, and how to stay safe.
Vulnerability Details
- CVE ID: CVE-2025-6250
- Description: Prior to version 25.4.270.0, when wmic.exe is elevated with a full admin token, a user can stop the BeyondTrust Defendpoint service, bypassing anti-tamper protections. Once the service is disabled, the user can add themselves to the Administrators group and run any process with elevated permissions.
- CVSS Score: 7.1 HIGH
- CVSS Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
- CVSS Explanation: This vulnerability has a high base score because a local attacker with administrative privileges can completely compromise the system's confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The 'AT:P' (Attack Requirement: Present) indicates specific conditions must be met for successful exploitation.
- Exploit Requirements: Requires a local account with existing administrative privileges.
- Affected Vendor: BeyondTrust
- Affected Product: Defendpoint
- Affected Version: Versions prior to 25.4.270.0
- CWE: CWE-424 - Improper or Missing Initialization
Timeline of Events
- 2025-07-28: CVE ID assigned and vulnerability details published.
- 2025-07-29: Analysis and blog post created.
Exploitability & Real-World Risk
While the vulnerability requires existing administrative privileges, it represents a significant risk. Malicious actors or rogue administrators can leverage this to completely bypass Defendpoint's anti-tamper protections, leading to unauthorized modifications, data theft, or complete system takeover. In scenarios where initial compromise grants administrative access (e.g., through phishing or credential theft), this flaw becomes a critical stepping stone for wider attack campaigns.
Recommendations
- Upgrade: Upgrade BeyondTrust Defendpoint to version 25.4.270.0 or later.
- Principle of Least Privilege: Enforce the principle of least privilege to minimize the impact of compromised administrative accounts.
- Monitor: Monitor system logs for suspicious activity, including attempts to stop the Defendpoint service.
Technical Insight
The vulnerability arises because wmic.exe, when executed with administrative privileges, is able to interact with the Defendpoint service in a way that circumvents its intended protections. Specifically, the service can be stopped, paving the way for further malicious actions.
Credit to Researcher(s)
BeyondTrust Security Advisory (BT25-06)
References
Tags
#BeyondTrust #Defendpoint #PrivilegeEscalation #AntiTamperBypass #CVE-2025-6250 #LocalPrivilegeEscalation
Summary: A critical vulnerability (CVE-2025-6250) in BeyondTrust Defendpoint allows local administrators to bypass anti-tamper protections and escalate privileges by stopping the Defendpoint service, leading to full system compromise. Upgrade to version 25.4.270.0 or later immediately.
CVE ID: CVE-2025-6250
Risk Analysis: Successful exploitation allows complete bypass of Defendpoint's protection mechanisms, enabling privilege escalation, arbitrary code execution, and full system compromise.
Recommendation: Upgrade BeyondTrust Defendpoint to version 25.4.270.0 or later to address the vulnerability. Enforce principle of least privilege.
Timeline
- 2025-07-28: CVE ID assigned and vulnerability details published.
- 2025-07-29: Analysis and blog post created.