CVE-2025-50158 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2025
Time-of-check time-of-use (toctou) race condition in Windows NTFS allows an unauthorized attacker to disclose information locally.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-50158 represents a critical time-of-check time-of-use race condition flaw within the Windows NTFS file system implementation. This type of vulnerability occurs when the system's behavior changes between the moment a security check is performed and when the actual operation is executed, creating a window where malicious actors can exploit the temporal discrepancy. The flaw specifically affects the NTFS file system's handling of file operations and access controls, allowing unauthorized local attackers to potentially access files they should not have permission to read. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of race condition exploits that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature and are commonly associated with privilege escalation and information disclosure attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from how NTFS manages file access validation and resource allocation during concurrent file operations. When a process checks file permissions and subsequently performs an operation on the same file, the system's internal state can change between these two operations, creating an exploitable window. This race condition is particularly dangerous because it occurs at the kernel level within the file system driver, where the attacker can manipulate the timing of operations to bypass security checks. The vulnerability specifically manifests when multiple threads or processes attempt to access the same file resource, with the check operation occurring before the use operation, but the file system state changing in between these operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability compromises the fundamental security model of Windows file systems by potentially allowing local attackers to read files that should be restricted to specific user groups or system processes. The information disclosure aspect means that sensitive data could be accessed by unauthorized users, potentially including system configuration files, user credentials, or application data. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where NTFS is widely used for file storage and access control. The local nature of the attack means that physical or network access to the system is required, but once exploited, the attacker can potentially access a wide range of system resources, making this a significant concern for system administrators and security teams. The vulnerability's impact aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 for data from local system and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as it enables unauthorized access to system resources and potential privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-50158 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security improvements. Microsoft has released security updates addressing this vulnerability, and system administrators should prioritize applying these patches to all affected systems. Additionally, implementing proper access control measures, monitoring for unusual file access patterns, and maintaining up-to-date security configurations can help reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and privileged access management solutions to limit potential attack surfaces. The vulnerability's classification as a race condition aligns with CWE-362, which specifically addresses concurrent execution using a race condition, and the remediation approaches should incorporate principles from both CWE and ATT&CK frameworks to ensure comprehensive protection. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems that may not have received the necessary updates, and incident response procedures should be established to address potential exploitation attempts.