Forcepoint DLP Vulnerability Enables Memory Manipulation and Arbitrary Code Execution

A critical security flaw in Forcepoint One DLP Client has been disclosed, allowing attackers to bypass vendor-implemented Python restrictions and execute arbitrary code on enterprise endpoints.

The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-14026, undermines the data loss prevention security controls designed to protect sensitive organizational data.

The Forcepoint One DLP Client version 23.04.5642 and potentially subsequent versions shipped with a constrained Python 2.5.4 runtime that deliberately omitted the ctypes foreign function interface (FFI) library.

This restriction was intended to prevent malicious code execution. However, security researcher Keith Lee demonstrated a complete bypass of this protection mechanism.

Attackers can restore ctypes functionality by transferring compiled ctypes dependencies from another system and applying a version-header patch to the ctypes.pyd module.

Attribute	Details
CVE ID	CVE-2025-14026
Affected Product	Forcepoint One DLP Client
Affected Version	23.04.5642 and potentially subsequent versions
Vulnerability Type	Security Restriction Bypass / Arbitrary Code Execution
Attack Vector	Local with ctypes.pyd patch

Once patched and correctly positioned on the search path, the previously restricted Python environment successfully loads ctypes.

Enabling direct invocation of DLLs, memory manipulation, and execution of arbitrary shellcode or DLL-based payloads. The vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise security infrastructure.

Arbitrary code execution within the DLP client may allow attackers to interfere with or bypass data loss prevention enforcement, alter client behavior, or turn off security monitoring functions.

Because the client operates as a critical security control on enterprise endpoints, successful exploitation may substantially reduce the effectiveness of DLP protections and weaken overall system security.

Forcepoint acknowledged the vulnerability and confirmed that the vulnerable Python runtime has been removed from Forcepoint One Endpoint builds starting with version 23.11, as part of Forcepoint DLP v10.2.

CERT/CC advises organizations to upgrade to endpoint versions that no longer include python.exe immediately.

Security teams should prioritize deploying patched versions across all enterprise endpoints to restore DLP protection integrity.

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