CVE-2025-55232 in Microsoft HPC Pack
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2025
Deserialization of untrusted data in Microsoft High Performance Compute Pack (HPC) allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-55232 represents a critical deserialization flaw within Microsoft High Performance Compute Pack, a distributed computing platform designed for scientific and engineering applications. This issue stems from the improper handling of untrusted data during the deserialization process, creating a pathway for remote code execution attacks. The HPC Pack serves as a framework for managing large-scale computational workloads across clusters of computers, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise distributed computing environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the HPC Pack processes serialized data from untrusted sources without adequate validation or sanitization. When an attacker successfully sends maliciously crafted serialized objects to the affected system, the deserialization process automatically reconstructs these objects in memory, leading to arbitrary code execution. This flaw aligns with common software security weaknesses documented in CWE-502, which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data as a critical vulnerability pattern. The attack vector operates over network connections, allowing remote exploitation without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where HPC systems are often exposed to external networks.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-55232 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to compute clusters and potentially escalate privileges within the distributed environment. Organizations utilizing HPC Pack for scientific computing, financial modeling, or research applications face significant risk, as compromised systems can be leveraged to access sensitive data or disrupt critical computational processes. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target multiple systems within a cluster simultaneously, potentially leading to widespread compromise across distributed computing infrastructure. This threat model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution and T1133 for external remote services, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the attack surface.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as Microsoft is expected to release security updates addressing the deserialization flaw. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to HPC Pack services, particularly restricting external exposure of cluster management interfaces. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation for all serialized data, deploying application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for anomalous deserialization activities. The remediation process must also consider the distributed nature of HPC environments, ensuring that all nodes within a cluster receive security updates simultaneously to prevent attackers from exploiting the vulnerability on less-protected systems within the same infrastructure.