CVE-2025-53617
Summary
by MITRE • 07/08/2025
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2026
cve-2023-27163 represents a critical privilege escalation vulnerability affecting microsoft windows operating systems through improper handling of kernel-mode drivers. this flaw resides in the windows kernel and allows unprivileged users to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges. the vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the ntoskrnl.exe component which processes device io control requests. specifically when handling certain ioctl commands with malformed parameters, the kernel fails to properly validate memory access patterns leading to potential code execution in kernel space. the technical implementation involves a use-after-free condition where freed memory structures are accessed without proper synchronization mechanisms. this creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate kernel data structures and ultimately gain complete system compromise.
the operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it enables attackers to bypass standard security controls including user access control and application whitelisting solutions. exploitation typically requires local access to the target system though remote attack vectors may exist depending on the specific implementation details. the vulnerability affects windows 10 versions 1909, 2004, 20h2, and windows 11 versions 21h2 and 22h2. attackers can leverage this flaw to install persistent backdoors, extract sensitive data, modify system configurations, and establish covert communication channels. the attack surface includes any application or service that interacts with vulnerable kernel components through device io operations. from a threat modeling perspective this vulnerability aligns with attack patterns described in the mitre att&ck framework under privilege escalation techniques and kernel-mode rootkits.
cwe-476 provides the structural context for this vulnerability as it represents a null pointer dereference condition that occurs when kernel components fail to properly validate input parameters. the flaw manifests when device io control operations receive unexpected parameter values that cause kernel memory management routines to access invalid memory locations. this particular implementation follows common patterns seen in windows kernel exploitation where improper handling of kernel objects leads to privilege escalation. the vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of advanced persistent threat campaigns where attackers seek to establish footholds with elevated privileges to maintain long-term access. mitigation strategies include applying microsoft security patches immediately, implementing kernel-mode exploit protection through windows defender application control, and monitoring for suspicious kernel-mode activities through endpoint detection and response solutions. organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and privilege least privilege principles to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. the vulnerability highlights the ongoing challenges in kernel security and the importance of robust input validation mechanisms in operating system components.