CVE-2025-21340: Windows Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

Overview

Severity

Medium (CVSS 5.5)

CVSS Vector

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

Category

Security Feature Bypass

Exploit Status

Not Exploited

Exploitation Likelihood

Less Likely

Patch Tuesday

2025-Jan

Released

2025-01-14

EPSS Score

0.07% (percentile: 22.5%)

FAQ

Are there any additional steps that I need to follow to be protected from this vulnerability? The changes to address this vulnerability updated Virtual Secure Mode components. The policy described in Guidance for blocking rollback of Virtualization-based Security (VBS) related security updates has been updated to account for the latest changes. If you deployed this policy, then you'll need to redeploy using the updated policy.

Affected Products (21)

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 Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
• Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation)
• 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 (6)

• 5050008
• 5049983
• 5049981
• 5050021
• 5050009
• 5049984

Acknowledgments

Microsoft Offensive Research & Security Engineering

Revision History

• 2025-01-14: Information published.