Recent security analyses have uncovered multiple critical vulnerabilities within Lenovo Vantage, a utility pre-installed on numerous Lenovo laptops, including ThinkPad and ThinkBook models. These vulnerabilities, identified as CVE-2025-6230, CVE-2025-6231, and CVE-2025-6232, could allow local attackers to escalate their privileges to the SYSTEM level, thereby gaining full control over affected systems.
Overview of Lenovo Vantage and Its Architecture
Lenovo Vantage is designed to provide users with system updates, hardware control, and telemetry features. It operates a core service under the NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM account and dynamically loads C# plug-ins to extend its functionality. These plug-ins communicate with the core service through a proprietary JSON-over-RPC protocol. However, flaws in input validation and path handling within this architecture have significantly expanded the attack surface for local adversaries.
Detailed Analysis of the Vulnerabilities
1. CVE-2025-6230: SQL Injection in VantageCoreAddin
The VantageCoreAddin component contains handlers that fail to properly sanitize the `localSetting.Component` value. This oversight allows for SQL injection attacks, particularly through the `DeleteTable` and `DeleteSetting` functions. An attacker can exploit this by sending crafted payloads to execute arbitrary SQL commands, leading to arbitrary file overwrites on the system. This vulnerability enables an unprivileged user to execute code with SYSTEM privileges, resulting in complete system compromise.
2. CVE-2025-6231: Path Traversal in LenovoSystemUpdateAddin
The LenovoSystemUpdateAddin component is susceptible to path traversal attacks due to improper handling of the `AppID` parameter. By crafting a malicious `Do-DownloadAndInstallAppComponent` RPC request, an attacker can manipulate the manifest path to point outside the trusted directory. This, combined with a time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition, allows the attacker to load an untrusted installer manifest. Consequently, the attacker can execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, leading to full system control.
3. CVE-2025-6232: Registry Key Manipulation in VantageCoreAddin
In the VantageCoreAddin component, the `Set-KeyChildren` function inadequately validates registry paths, only checking for the substring HKCU\SOFTWARE\Lenovo. An attacker can exploit this by supplying a path like `HKLM\\…\\Battery1\\HKCU\\SOFTWARE\\Lenovo`, which passes the filter and targets writable Lenovo power-management keys in the HKLM hive. By modifying the Discretionary Access Control List (DACL) on these keys and creating registry symlinks, the attacker can alter the `ImagePath` of a service to point to a malicious binary. Upon service restart or system reboot, this binary executes with SYSTEM privileges, granting the attacker persistent full control over the system.
Exploitation Techniques and Attack Prerequisites
To exploit these vulnerabilities, an attacker must first bypass Lenovo Vantage’s signature-based client authentication. The service only verifies that the connecting process bears a Lenovo digital signature, a control that can be circumvented by placing a legitimate signed binary, such as `FnhotkeyWidget.exe`, into a writable folder and planting a malicious `profapi.dll` alongside it. When the trusted executable loads the hijacked DLL, the attacker gains code execution within a Lenovo-signed context and can communicate freely with the RPC interface.
Once this initial barrier is overcome, the attacker can exploit the aforementioned vulnerabilities to escalate privileges and achieve full system compromise.
Mitigation Measures and Recommendations
Lenovo has released patches addressing these vulnerabilities as of July 8, 2025. Users are strongly advised to update their Lenovo Vantage software to the latest version to mitigate these risks. Specifically, the following versions contain the necessary fixes:
– VantageCoreAddin: Version 1.0.0.199 or later
– LenovoSystemUpdateAddin: Version 1.0.24.32 or later
To ensure system security, users should:
1. Update Lenovo Vantage: Utilize the automatic update feature within Lenovo Vantage or download the latest version from the Lenovo Support website.
2. Verify Software Integrity: Regularly check for and apply software updates to all installed applications, especially those with elevated privileges.
3. Limit User Privileges: Operate with the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users have only the permissions necessary for their tasks.
4. Monitor System Activity: Implement monitoring tools to detect unusual system behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts.
Conclusion
The discovery of these critical vulnerabilities within Lenovo Vantage highlights the importance of rigorous security practices in software development and maintenance. Users must remain vigilant, promptly apply security updates, and adhere to best practices to safeguard their systems against potential threats.
