Root code execution via writable OpenSSL path
Published May 15, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026
Improper access control in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for Linux before 101.25022.0002 allows local users to gain root access. The bundled osqueryi binary hardcodes OPENSSLDIR under the world-writable /tmp/build tree, causing its root-run process to load an attacker-supplied OpenSSL configuration and shared object. Any unprivileged local account can stage those files and execute arbitrary code as root when the daemon invokes osqueryi, typically within ten minutes.
Summary
What happened
Improper access control in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for Linux before 101.25022.0002 allows local users to gain root access. The bundled osqueryi binary hardcodes OPENSSLDIR under the world-writable /tmp/build tree, causing its root-run process to load an attacker-supplied OpenSSL configuration and shared object. Any unprivileged local account can stage those files and execute arbitrary code as root when the daemon invokes osqueryi, typically within ten minutes.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-47161
- Published
- May 15, 2025
- Updated
- Feb 26, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-284, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 15, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 26, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=101.0.0 <101.25022.0002
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- CVE-2025-47161 osquery OPENSSLDIR privilege-escalation proof of conceptfunctional · demonstrated
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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