Zoom recently addressed a critical security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-49457, in its Windows client software. The flaw, which has a severity score of 9.6 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), stems from an “untrusted search path” that an attacker could exploit to escalate their privileges. This means a remote, unauthenticated user could potentially gain control of a system running the vulnerable Zoom client. The fix was applied to several products, including the standard Zoom Workplace client, the VDI, Rooms, Rooms Controller, and Meeting SDK for Windows, underscoring the broad impact of the issue across Zoom’s ecosystem.
The core of the vulnerability lies in how the Zoom client for Windows handles search paths. In a typical system, applications use a predefined set of directories to find necessary files. If this process is insecure, an attacker can manipulate the search path to trick the application into executing a malicious file instead of a legitimate one. By exploiting this, a threat actor can escalate their privileges from a standard user to an administrator, effectively gaining full control over the compromised device. This level of access allows them to install malware, steal confidential files, or use the device as a stepping stone to infiltrate a wider corporate network.
The danger of this particular vulnerability is magnified by Zoom’s immense global user base. Millions of individuals and businesses rely on the platform for daily communication, often handling sensitive discussions and proprietary data. A flaw like CVE-2025-49457 gives attackers a high-value target and a discreet entry point into well-secured organizations. Because Zoom is a trusted application, malicious activity carried out through it is less likely to trigger security alarms, making it an ideal vector for cybercriminals.
Attackers who successfully exploit this kind of privilege escalation bug can bypass many of the security controls designed to limit what software can do on a computer. They can then install ransomware, keyloggers, or other malicious payloads that can harvest credentials and corporate secrets. The threat is not limited to a single device; once an attacker has a foothold on an employee’s work computer, they can use it to move laterally across the company’s network, potentially compromising servers and critical infrastructure.
This incident is the latest in a series of security patches from Zoom. In late 2024, the company fixed six other vulnerabilities, including two high-severity flaws that also allowed for privilege escalation or information leakage. These continuous patches highlight the ongoing battle to secure widely used software and underscore the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest security releases. For users, updating their Zoom client is the single most effective way to protect themselves from this and similar threats.
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