CVE-2025-33053 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 06/10/2025
External control of file name or path in Internet Shortcut Files allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2025
This vulnerability exists in internet shortcut file processing functionality where external control of file names or paths is permitted, creating a critical security risk that enables remote code execution. The flaw occurs when applications fail to properly validate or sanitize file path inputs within internet shortcut files, allowing attackers to craft malicious shortcut files that can execute arbitrary code when processed by vulnerable systems. Such vulnerability represents a direct threat to network security as it can be exploited through network-based attacks without requiring local system access. The technical implementation involves the improper handling of file path resolution where user-controllable input is directly used to construct file paths without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. This weakness aligns with CWE-73, which specifically addresses external control of file name or path, and demonstrates how insufficient input validation can lead to path traversal and code execution vulnerabilities. The operational impact is severe as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious payloads across networked environments, potentially gaining unauthorized access to systems, escalating privileges, or establishing persistent backdoors. Attackers typically exploit this by creating malicious internet shortcut files with specially crafted paths that, when opened by vulnerable applications, trigger code execution on the target system. The vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently open malicious shortcut files from network shares, email attachments, or web downloads. From an attack perspective, this aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, specifically through internet shortcut files as a means of execution. The risk is amplified by the fact that internet shortcut files are commonly used in legitimate business operations, making them an attractive target for social engineering attacks. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies and disable automatic processing of internet shortcut files from untrusted sources. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defense layers. Regular security updates and patches are essential to address this vulnerability, while user education about recognizing potentially malicious shortcut files can significantly reduce exploitation success rates. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper path handling in preventing remote code execution attacks, particularly in networked environments where file processing occurs automatically without user intervention.