CVE-2025-46430: Dell Display Manager Privilege Escalation

CVE-2025-46430 Overview

CVE-2025-46430 affects Dell Display and Peripheral Manager (DDPM) versions prior to 2.1.2.12 on Windows. The vulnerability resides in the installer component and is classified as Execution with Unnecessary Privileges [CWE-250]. A local attacker with low privileges can leverage the flaw during installation to elevate their permissions on the host. Successful exploitation requires user interaction and local access to the target system. Dell published advisory DSA-2025-411 addressing the issue.

Critical Impact
A low-privileged local attacker can escalate to higher privileges by abusing the DDPM installer, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected Windows host.

Affected Products

Dell Display and Peripheral Manager for Windows, versions prior to 2.1.2.12
Windows endpoints with DDPM installed for external monitor and peripheral configuration
Enterprise fleets deploying Dell monitors managed by DDPM

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-10 - CVE-2025-46430 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-46430

Vulnerability Analysis

The flaw stems from the Dell Display and Peripheral Manager installer running with more privileges than necessary. When an unprivileged user triggers installer functionality, the process executes operations under elevated context. This mismatch allows an attacker to influence privileged file operations, script execution, or component loading during installation flows. The Dell Security Advisory DSA-2025-411 confirms local attack vector with user interaction as a requirement.

Root Cause

CWE-250 describes software that performs an operation at an unnecessarily high privilege level. In DDPM, the installer does not correctly drop or scope privileges when interacting with user-controllable inputs. As a result, an attacker able to influence installer behavior inherits the installer's elevated context. The condition persists across DDPM releases before 2.1.2.12.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access and low privileges on the target Windows host. The attacker must induce a user to run or interact with the vulnerable DDPM installer. Common techniques for CWE-250 abuse include planting attacker-controlled files, DLLs, or scripts in paths consulted by the elevated installer process. Successful exploitation yields code execution at the installer's privilege level, enabling full compromise of the endpoint. No public proof-of-concept or exploit code is currently available, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

See the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2025-411 for vendor-supplied technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-46430

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by the DDPM installer executable running under elevated context
Creation or modification of files in DDPM installer working directories by non-administrative users prior to installation
Loading of unsigned or unexpected DLLs from user-writable paths during a DDPM install or upgrade
New local administrator accounts or service installations created shortly after DDPM installer execution

Detection Strategies

Inventory endpoints running DDPM and compare installed versions against 2.1.2.12 to identify vulnerable hosts
Alert on installer processes launched from user-writable directories or with command lines referencing non-standard paths
Correlate DDPM installer execution with subsequent privilege changes, token manipulation, or persistence events
Baseline normal DDPM update behavior and flag deviations such as unusual parent processes or scripting engine invocation

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable process creation and command-line auditing on Windows endpoints where DDPM is deployed
Monitor file system activity in %TEMP%, %APPDATA%, and DDPM installation directories during install operations
Forward endpoint telemetry to a centralized analytics platform to detect installer-driven privilege escalation patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-46430

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Dell Display and Peripheral Manager to version 2.1.2.12 or later on all Windows systems
Restrict local user permissions and enforce least privilege on endpoints running DDPM
Block execution of DDPM installers from non-administrative user directories using application control policies
Audit recent DDPM installations for signs of tampering or unauthorized privilege changes

Patch Information

Dell has released a fixed version of Display and Peripheral Manager. Administrators should download and deploy DDPM 2.1.2.12 or later from the vendor site. Refer to the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2025-411 for the official remediation guidance and download links.

Workarounds

If patching is not immediately possible, prevent non-administrative users from launching the DDPM installer
Enforce Windows User Account Control (UAC) at its highest setting to require explicit approval for elevation prompts
Use application allowlisting to restrict installer execution to trusted, signed Dell binaries in protected locations

bash

# Verify installed DDPM version on Windows (PowerShell)
Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\* |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*Display and Peripheral Manager*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher