According to TechRepublic, a critical vulnerability in Zoom for Windows, tracked as CVE-2025-49457 and scoring a 9.6 out of 10 on the CVSS scale, was actively exploited by attackers. The flaw specifically affected Zoom Workspace, Zoom Workspace VDI, the Zoom Meeting SDK, and Zoom Rooms for Windows in versions before 6.3.10. By exploiting a weakness in how Zoom loads DLL files, attackers could escalate privileges, steal meeting recordings and credentials, and pivot deeper into corporate networks. Zoom has now released a patch to fix the issue by specifying absolute paths for DLLs. The immediate impact is that any unpatched Windows Zoom client remains at high risk of complete system compromise. Users and IT administrators must update their Zoom applications immediately to apply the critical security fix.
The Real Problem Isn’t Just Zoom
Here’s the thing: this isn’t a novel attack. It’s a classic DLL hijacking or planting vulnerability, and it’s been a known issue in Windows software for what feels like forever. The fact that a massive, enterprise-critical app like Zoom, used by millions daily, still fell victim to it in 2025 is frankly alarming. It points to a deeper issue in software development lifecycles where basic security hygiene—like always specifying full paths for critical library loads—gets overlooked. And when that app often runs with administrator privileges? That’s just handing the keys to the kingdom to anyone who finds the unlocked window.
Why This One Is So Nasty
Look, a 9.6 severity score isn’t handed out like candy. This was bad. The exploit chain is brutally efficient because it abuses Windows’ own trusted search order. Zoom asks for a DLL, Windows goes looking for it, and if a hacker has placed a malicious file with the right name in a spot Windows checks first, boom—the malicious code runs with Zoom’s permissions. No need to hack Zoom’s code itself. The attacker’s file gets a free ride on Zoom’s credibility. This is what let them harvest everything from chat logs to network credentials. For businesses, that’s a direct pipeline from a single user’s Zoom app straight to the domain controller. That’s a nightmare scenario that starts with something as simple as joining a meeting.
The Patch and The Persistent Gap
Zoom’s fix, detailed in their security bulletin, is technically correct: they now use absolute paths. Problem solved, right? Well, only if everyone updates. And that’s the eternal gap in cybersecurity. How many personal users ignore update prompts? How many large corporations have lengthy, bureaucratic testing cycles for new software versions before deployment? In those windows of delay, every single unpatched machine is a sitting duck. The bulletin says versions before 6.3.10 are vulnerable. I’d bet there are tons of machines still running them right now. Auto-updates are crucial, but in locked-down enterprise environments, they’re often disabled. So the real vulnerability often isn’t just the code—it’s the human and organizational processes around it.
What You Actually Need To Do
So, what’s the takeaway? First, if you’re on Windows, open Zoom, click your profile picture, and check for updates. Do it now. Seriously. Second, reconsider running any communication app with admin rights if you can avoid it. It reduces the blast radius. For IT admins, this is a five-alarm fire to push this patch via your management systems immediately. This specific flaw is a stark reminder that the most mundane software, the stuff we use for everyday meetings, can become the weakest link in your security chain. It’s not just exotic zero-days in obscure servers; sometimes, the threat is hiding in plain sight, in an app icon you click every single day. And that might be the most dangerous kind of all.
