CVE-2025-14406

SYSTEM code execution via unsecured OpenSSL configuration

Published Dec 23, 2025 · Updated Dec 23, 2025

Local privilege escalation in Avanquest Software Soda PDF Desktop 14.0.437.22898 allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM. The OpenSSL configuration loads a configuration file from an unsecured search location, allowing attacker-controlled content to affect privileged execution. Exploitation requires prior execution of low-privileged code on the Windows host; success grants SYSTEM-level code execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in Avanquest Software Soda PDF Desktop 14.0.437.22898 allows local users to execute code as SYSTEM. The OpenSSL configuration loads a configuration file from an unsecured search location, allowing attacker-controlled content to affect privileged execution. Exploitation requires prior execution of low-privileged code on the Windows host; success grants SYSTEM-level code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-14406
Published
Dec 23, 2025
Updated
Dec 23, 2025
Vendor
Avanquest Software
Product
Soda PDF Desktop
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.008
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 23, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 23, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=14.0.437.22898

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Avanquest Software · Soda PDF Desktopversion=14.0.437.22898

Published CVSS scores

7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.008Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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