CVE-2025-0288 in Partition Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 03/03/2025
Paragon Partition Manager version 7.9.1 contains an arbitrary kernel memory vulnerability facilitated by the memmove function, which does not validate or sanitize user controlled input, allowing an attacker the ability to write arbitrary kernel memory and perform privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-0288 resides within Paragon Partition Manager version 7.9.1, a widely used disk management utility that provides advanced partitioning capabilities for Windows operating systems. This critical flaw manifests as an arbitrary kernel memory write vulnerability that fundamentally compromises the security posture of systems running the affected software. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the kernel-mode driver component that handles memory operations, specifically through the memmove function which is responsible for copying memory blocks. When user-controlled data is passed to this function without adequate sanitization or bounds checking, the system becomes susceptible to malicious memory manipulation attempts that can bypass kernel security mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted input that triggers the vulnerable memmove function within the kernel space. This allows an attacker to write arbitrary data to any memory location within the kernel address space, effectively enabling privilege escalation from user mode to kernel mode execution. The memmove function's lack of input validation creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate kernel memory structures, potentially corrupting critical system data or injecting malicious code into kernel space. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, though the specific implementation here involves kernel memory manipulation rather than traditional buffer overflows. The attack vector leverages the kernel-mode driver's insufficient validation of user-supplied parameters, creating an environment where untrusted input can be directly translated into kernel memory writes.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-0288 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and persistent backdoor access. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain unrestricted access to all system resources, including the ability to read and modify any memory location, manipulate kernel data structures, and potentially establish persistent footholds within the target environment. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where disk management tools are frequently deployed, as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious file attachments, drive-by downloads, or social engineering campaigns targeting system administrators. The privilege escalation capability means that even if an attacker initially gains access through a lower-privilege account, they can leverage this vulnerability to achieve full system compromise, making it a critical target for exploitation in advanced persistent threat campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-0288 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security posture improvements. The primary recommendation involves immediate patching of the affected Paragon Partition Manager version 7.9.1, as vendors should have released security updates to address the memmove function validation issues. System administrators should implement strict software whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized installation of potentially vulnerable disk management utilities. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous kernel memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers exploitation for privilege escalation, and T1547.001, covering registry run keys and startup folder. Additional defensive measures include enabling kernel-mode protection features such as kernel address space layout randomization and driver signature enforcement, while also implementing regular security assessments to identify potentially vulnerable software components in the system inventory.