CVE-2025-21291: Windows Direct Show Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Overview

Severity

High (CVSS 8.8)

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

Category

Remote Code Execution

Exploit Status

Not Exploited

Exploitation Likelihood

Less Likely

Patch Tuesday

2025-Jan

Released

2025-01-14

EPSS Score

1.65% (percentile: 82.0%)

FAQ

According to the CVSS metric, the attack vector is network (AV:N) and the user interaction is required (UI:R). What is the target context of the remote code execution? This attack requires an authenticated client to click a link so that an unauthenticated attacker can initiate remote code execution. How could an attacker exploit the vulnerability? An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by controlling subsequent memory allocation after a double free error occurs. This could potentially allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code, leading to remote code execution.

Affected Products (17)

Windows

• Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems
• Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems
• Windows Server 2019
• Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
• Windows Server 2022
• Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation)
• Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems
• Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation)

ESU

• Windows 11 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 10 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 10 Version 22H2 for 32-bit Systems

Security Updates (5)

• 5050008
• 5049983
• 5049981
• 5050021
• 5049984

Acknowledgments

Mozilla

Revision History

• 2025-01-14: Information published.