CVE-2025-21325: Windows Secure Kernel Mode Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Overview

Severity

High (CVSS 7.8)

CVSS Vector

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

Category

Elevation of Privilege

Exploit Status

Not Exploited

Exploitation Likelihood

Less Likely

Patch Tuesday

2025-Jan

Released

2025-01-16

Last Updated

2025-02-21

EPSS Score

0.90% (percentile: 75.6%)

FAQ

What architecture(s) are impacted by this vulnerability? This vulnerability impacts ARM64 only. How could an attacker exploit this vulnerability and what privileges could an attacker gain? An authenticated attacker could escalate privileges to Secure Kernel by overwriting the page table data meant for the kernel.

Affected Products (14)

Windows

• 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 Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
• Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows Server 2025

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 (3)

• 5049981
• 5050021
• 5050009

Acknowledgments

Maxime Villard, of M.O.R.S.E.

Revision History

• 2025-01-16: Information published.
• 2025-02-21: In the Security Updates table, added Download and Article links for Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation). Microsoft recommends that customers install the update to be fully protected from the vulnerability. Customers whose systems are configured to receive automatic updates do not need to take any further action.