CVE-2025-24066 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2025
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-24066 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting Windows kernel-mode drivers that enables local privilege escalation for authenticated attackers. This flaw exists within the kernel-mode component of the windows operating system where memory management operations are handled with the highest privileges. The buffer overflow occurs when the kernel-mode driver processes input data without proper bounds checking, allowing an attacker to write beyond allocated memory boundaries in the heap memory space. The vulnerability specifically targets the memory allocation and handling mechanisms used by kernel-mode components that process user-supplied data, creating a potential entry point for malicious code execution at the kernel level.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to already possess valid user credentials and execute malicious code within the context of a standard user account. Once the attacker successfully triggers the buffer overflow condition through crafted input data, the heap corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical kernel memory structures or function pointers. This memory corruption ultimately enables the attacker to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard user access controls and elevation restrictions. The heap-based nature of the vulnerability means that the attacker can manipulate heap metadata and memory layout to achieve code execution control, making this particularly dangerous for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in heap memory allocation contexts.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where multiple users maintain valid accounts on systems running affected windows versions. The local privilege escalation capability means that attackers who gain initial access through social engineering, credential theft, or other means can leverage this flaw to obtain system-level control without requiring additional attack vectors. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise as attackers with kernel-level access can manipulate system memory, disable security features, modify system files, and establish persistent backdoors. Organizations with legacy systems or those running unsupported windows versions face heightened risk as these systems are more likely to contain unpatched kernel-mode driver vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also increases risk for environments where users have elevated privileges or administrative accounts, as the attack surface expands when multiple valid accounts exist on the same system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-24066 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from microsoft security updates, as this vulnerability requires kernel-level fixes that cannot be addressed through user-mode workarounds. Organizations should implement strict access controls and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, including unusual memory access patterns or privilege escalation events. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected driver versions and prioritize patching efforts based on risk assessment. Additional defensive measures include enabling exploit protection features such as address space layout randomization, data execution prevention, and kernel-mode exploit mitigation techniques. The mitigation approach should align with ATT&CK technique T1068 for privilege escalation and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, ensuring comprehensive coverage against exploitation attempts. Regular system monitoring and incident response procedures should be updated to include detection of heap-based buffer overflow exploitation patterns and kernel-mode memory corruption indicators.