CVE-2025-7017: Avira Antivirus RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-7017 Overview

CVE-2025-7017 is a heap buffer out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the Avira Antivirus engine. The flaw is triggered when the engine scans a malformed Windows Installer (MSI) file. Successful exploitation can lead to local code execution within the antivirus engine process or denial-of-service of that process.

The issue affects Avira Antivirus on Windows, macOS, and Linux for engine builds before 8.3.70.56. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-125] (Out-of-bounds Read) and was disclosed through the Gen Digital Security Advisory.

Critical Impact
A crafted MSI file scanned by Avira Antivirus can trigger out-of-bounds memory access, enabling local code execution in the scanner process or stopping antivirus protection entirely.

Affected Products

Avira Antivirus on Windows (engine builds before 8.3.70.56)
Avira Antivirus on macOS (engine builds before 8.3.70.56)
Avira Antivirus on Linux (engine builds before 8.3.70.56)

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-12 - CVE-2025-7017 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-7017

Vulnerability Analysis

The Avira Antivirus engine parses Windows Installer (MSI) files as part of routine on-access and on-demand scanning. The parser fails to validate offsets or lengths within malformed MSI structures before reading from a heap-allocated buffer. The engine then reads memory outside the bounds of the intended allocation.

Because the antivirus engine processes files automatically as they appear on disk, an attacker only needs to place a malicious MSI on the target system to trigger parsing. The out-of-bounds read can either crash the scanner, disabling endpoint protection, or be shaped into a primitive that supports local code execution within the engine process.

The engine process typically runs with elevated privileges to inspect system files. Code execution in that context means an attacker can act in a highly privileged security service.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient bounds checking on length and offset fields parsed from the MSI container before the engine dereferences pointers into a heap buffer. This matches the [CWE-125] pattern where the product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local. An attacker must deliver a malformed MSI file to the target endpoint through any method that causes the antivirus engine to scan it, including download, email attachment, removable media, or shared folder. User interaction is required to place the file where the engine will process it. No authentication on the antivirus product itself is needed.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for CVE-2025-7017. Refer to the Gen Digital Security Advisory for vendor-supplied technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7017

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected termination or repeated crashes of the Avira Antivirus engine process on Windows, macOS, or Linux endpoints.
Presence of unsolicited or unexpected .msi files in user download directories, temp folders, or shared file locations.
Antivirus engine version reporting a build earlier than 8.3.70.56 after expected update cycles.

Detection Strategies

Inventory Avira Antivirus engine versions across the fleet and flag any endpoint running an engine build below 8.3.70.56.
Alert on antivirus service crashes or unexpected restarts of the Avira engine process correlated with recent file write events for MSI files.
Hunt for MSI files written to non-standard locations and inspect their structure for malformed header or stream metadata.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor endpoint protection telemetry for gaps in antivirus coverage, including periods when the Avira engine is not running.
Collect process crash and Windows Error Reporting events for the Avira engine and forward them to a central data lake for correlation.
Track MSI file creation events on endpoints and servers, particularly from non-administrative users or untrusted network sources.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7017

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Avira Antivirus engine to build 8.3.70.56 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.
Verify engine update delivery by querying installed engine versions across the environment after the next definition update cycle.
Restrict the introduction of untrusted MSI files into the environment through email gateway and web proxy controls.

Patch Information

Gen Digital has released a fixed engine build. Upgrade to Avira Antivirus engine version 8.3.70.56 or later. Refer to the Gen Digital Security Advisory for product-specific update instructions and release notes.

Workarounds

Block or quarantine inbound MSI attachments at the email gateway until all endpoints are confirmed patched.
Apply application control policies that prevent execution and staging of MSI files from untrusted user-writable paths.
Audit and remove unexpected MSI files from user profile and temporary directories on systems that cannot be immediately updated.

bash

# Example: enumerate Avira engine version on Linux endpoints
/opt/avira/bin/savapi --version

# Example: list MSI files in user-writable locations on Windows (PowerShell)
Get-ChildItem -Path $env:TEMP,$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads -Filter *.msi -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue