CVE-2025-27739 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 04/08/2025
Untrusted pointer dereference in Windows Kernel allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the windows kernel that exploits an untrusted pointer dereference condition. The issue occurs when the kernel processes input from authenticated users without adequate validation of pointer integrity, creating an opportunity for malicious code execution with elevated privileges. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient bounds checking or improper validation of user-supplied data structures that are subsequently dereferenced within kernel space.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves a scenario where legitimate kernel functions receive pointers from user-mode applications but fail to validate whether these pointers reference valid memory locations within the kernel address space. When an attacker can manipulate or predict pointer values, they may cause the kernel to dereference memory that appears valid but actually points to controlled locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution in kernel context. This type of vulnerability directly maps to common weakness enumerations such as cwe-476 null pointer dereference and cwe-125 out-of-bounds read, though specifically within the kernel execution environment where the consequences are far more severe.
The operational impact of this privilege escalation vulnerability is significant as it allows an attacker who has already established a foothold on a target system through legitimate authentication to gain administrative privileges without requiring additional credentials or complex attack vectors. This capability enables lateral movement throughout the network, data exfiltration, persistence establishment, and complete system compromise. From an enterprise security perspective, this vulnerability represents a critical risk because it can be exploited by insiders or attackers who have already gained user-level access, making detection particularly challenging.
Mitigation strategies for this class of vulnerability typically involve implementing robust pointer validation mechanisms within kernel code, enabling exploit protection features such as address space layout randomization and kernel address space layout randomization, and maintaining up-to-date system patches from microsoft. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious kernel-mode activities and establish strict access controls to limit user privileges where possible. Additionally, following the principle of least privilege and employing defensive coding practices that validate all inputs before use can significantly reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with several attack techniques documented in the mitre att&ck framework under privilege escalation tactics, specifically targeting kernel exploits and credential access methods that leverage system-level vulnerabilities to achieve unauthorized administrative access.