CVE-2025-15318: Tanium Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2025-15318 Overview

CVE-2025-15318 is an arbitrary file deletion vulnerability discovered in Tanium End-User Notifications Endpoint Tools. This vulnerability allows a local attacker with low privileges to delete arbitrary files on the system by exploiting improper link resolution before file access (CWE-59). The vulnerability can lead to significant integrity impacts on affected systems, potentially disrupting system operations or enabling further attacks by removing critical security controls or configuration files.

Critical Impact

Local attackers can exploit this vulnerability to delete arbitrary files, potentially causing system instability, data loss, or enabling further exploitation by removing security controls.

Affected Products

• Tanium End-User Notifications Endpoint Tools (specific versions not disclosed)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-09 - CVE CVE-2025-15318 published to NVD
• 2026-02-10 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-15318

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper handling of symbolic links (symlinks) within the Tanium End-User Notifications Endpoint Tools component. The affected software fails to properly validate file paths before performing deletion operations, allowing an attacker to create malicious symbolic links that redirect file operations to unintended targets.

The local attack vector means an attacker must have existing access to the target system, though only low-level privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability. No user interaction is necessary for successful exploitation. The vulnerability specifically impacts system integrity through the ability to delete files, though it does not directly provide read access to sensitive information or affect system availability through the vulnerability itself.

Root Cause

The root cause is classified as CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access). This weakness occurs when the software attempts to access a file based on a filename but does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource. In this case, the End-User Notifications Endpoint Tools component processes file paths without adequately verifying whether they are symbolic links pointing to locations outside the intended directory scope.

Attack Vector

An attacker with local access to a system running vulnerable versions of Tanium End-User Notifications Endpoint Tools can exploit this vulnerability through the following mechanism:

1. The attacker identifies a predictable file path used by the Tanium component for file operations
2. Before the legitimate operation occurs, the attacker creates a symbolic link at the expected path pointing to a target file they wish to delete
3. When the Tanium component performs its deletion operation, it follows the symlink and deletes the attacker-specified file instead
4. This enables deletion of files that the attacker would not normally have permission to remove

This type of attack is commonly known as a symlink attack or symlink race condition. For additional technical details, refer to the Tanium Security Advisory TAN-2025-017.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-15318

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected deletion of system files or application configurations
• Creation of symbolic links in directories used by Tanium End-User Notifications components
• File system audit logs showing file deletions performed by Tanium processes targeting files outside expected directories
• System instability following Tanium component operations

Detection Strategies

• Enable file system auditing to monitor for unexpected file deletions by Tanium-related processes
• Monitor for symbolic link creation in directories associated with Tanium End-User Notifications tools
• Implement endpoint detection rules to alert on file operations that traverse symbolic links to sensitive system locations
• Review system logs for patterns indicating symlink exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure SentinelOne Singularity platform to monitor file system operations and detect anomalous deletion patterns
• Establish baseline file integrity monitoring for critical system files and directories
• Enable verbose logging on Tanium components to capture detailed file operation metadata
• Implement real-time alerting for file system events involving symbolic links in protected directories

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-15318

Immediate Actions Required

• Review the Tanium Security Advisory TAN-2025-017 for specific patch information
• Apply vendor-provided updates for Tanium End-User Notifications Endpoint Tools
• Audit systems for signs of exploitation or unauthorized file deletions
• Restrict local user access to systems running vulnerable Tanium components where possible

Patch Information

Tanium has addressed this vulnerability as documented in security advisory TAN-2025-017. Organizations should consult the Tanium Security Advisory for specific patch versions and deployment guidance. Apply the latest updates for Tanium End-User Notifications Endpoint Tools as soon as they become available through your Tanium deployment infrastructure.

Workarounds

• Restrict local access to systems running vulnerable versions to trusted users only
• Implement file system permissions that prevent creation of symbolic links in directories used by Tanium components
• Deploy application whitelisting to limit execution of processes that could create malicious symbolic links
• Enable enhanced auditing on directories used by Tanium End-User Notifications to detect exploitation attempts

# Example: Enable auditing on Windows systems for file system events
# This helps detect symlink creation and unexpected file deletions
auditpol /set /subcategory:"File System" /success:enable /failure:enable

# Review Tanium installation directories and apply restrictive permissions
# Consult Tanium documentation for appropriate directory paths