Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Avira’s antivirus engine can be crashed or potentially made to run code when it scans a malformed MS-DOS executable. The issue affects Windows, macOS, and Linux installations using engine builds before 8.3.70.104. Business urgency depends on endpoint coverage and exposure to untrusted files.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority endpoint security update. The vulnerable component is defensive software, so failure could reduce protection and potentially allow code execution in the antivirus engine context.
Technical view
CVE-2025-14098 is a heap out-of-bounds write caused by integer overflow in Avira Antivirus engine handling of malformed MS-DOS executable files. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8. The stated impact is local code execution or denial-of-service of the antivirus engine process.
Likely exposure
Organizations are exposed if they run Avira Antivirus on Windows, macOS, or Linux with engine builds earlier than 8.3.70.104, especially on systems scanning downloads, email attachments, removable media, or file shares.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. CVSS indicates local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction required. Evidence supports risk from scanning a malformed executable, but not internet-wide remote exploitation.
Researcher notes
Analysis is limited to the CVE record and vendor advisory pointer. The bundle identifies CWE-190 and CWE-787, affected platforms, fixed engine threshold, and CVSS vector. It does not provide proof-of-concept status, detailed root cause, or exploitation evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Update Avira Antivirus engine to build 8.3.70.104 or later where applicable.
- Check Gen Digital or Avira advisory channels for product-specific remediation guidance.
- Prioritize endpoints that process untrusted files, attachments, or removable media.
- Monitor antivirus engine crashes until all affected builds are remediated.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Avira Antivirus engine builds across Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.
- Flag any engine build earlier than 8.3.70.104 as affected.
- Confirm vendor advisory details before approving compensating controls.
- Review security telemetry for antivirus engine crashes around executable file scans.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-190: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCWE-787: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2025-14098 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9GENVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/contact-us/security-advisories/CVE reference, GEN
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Integer Overflow or Wraparound
Integer Overflow or Wraparound represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.