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Trend Micro has moved quickly to address a pair of critical vulnerabilities in its Apex One endpoint security platform that could allow attackers to remotely execute code on vulnerable Windows systems. The flaws, identified as CVE-2025-71210 and CVE-2025-71211, both stem from path traversal weaknesses within the Apex One management console.
Apex One is a widely used security solution designed to protect organizations from a range of threats, including malware, spyware, and malicious tools. These newly discovered vulnerabilities represent a significant risk, as successful exploitation could grant unauthorized access and control over affected systems. The urgency is heightened by the potential for attackers to leverage these flaws to deploy ransomware or steal sensitive data.
Both CVE-2025-71210 and CVE-2025-71211 involve path traversal vulnerabilities, meaning an attacker can manipulate file paths to access resources they shouldn’t be able to reach. According to Trend Micro’s security advisory, exploitation requires access to the Apex One Management Console. The company advises customers with externally exposed console IP addresses to implement source restrictions as a mitigating factor.
“Even though an exploit may require several specific conditions to be met, Trend Micro strongly encourages customers to update to the latest builds as soon as possible,” the advisory states. To address these critical issues, Trend Micro has released updates for both SaaS Apex One versions and Critical Patch Build 14136. This build too resolves two high-severity privilege escalation vulnerabilities in the Windows agent and four affecting the macOS agent.
While Trend Micro has not currently observed active exploitation of these specific vulnerabilities in the wild, the company has a history of addressing Apex One flaws that have been targeted by threat actors. In August 2025, Trend Micro alerted customers to an actively exploited remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2025-54948) and previously patched zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in September 2022 (CVE-2022-40139) and September 2023 (CVE-2023-41179). This pattern underscores the importance of proactive patching.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) currently tracks 10 Trend Micro Apex vulnerabilities that have been, or continue to be, exploited. You can find details on these vulnerabilities and mitigation guidance on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.
Understanding Path Traversal Vulnerabilities
Path traversal vulnerabilities, like those affecting Apex One, are a common web security risk. They occur when an application doesn’t properly sanitize user-supplied input, allowing attackers to access files and directories outside of the intended web root. In the context of Apex One, this could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system.
Mitigation and Recommended Actions
Trend Micro strongly recommends that all Apex One users immediately update to the latest version of the software. Specifically, installing Critical Patch Build 14136 is crucial for addressing these vulnerabilities. Organizations with externally accessible Apex One Management Consoles should also review and tighten source restrictions to limit potential attack vectors. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning are also essential components of a robust security posture.
Beyond patching, organizations should reinforce endpoint security best practices, including strong password policies, multi-factor authentication, and regular user awareness training. These measures can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation, even in the event of a vulnerability.
Looking ahead, the continued focus on endpoint security will be critical as threat actors increasingly target these systems. The rapid pace of vulnerability discovery and exploitation highlights the need for organizations to prioritize proactive security measures and maintain a vigilant approach to threat detection and response.
Have you experienced any issues with Apex One or other endpoint security solutions? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
