CVE-2025-29812: DirectX Graphics Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
CVE-2025-29812 is an elevation of privilege vulnerability in DirectX Graphics Kernel, rated Important by Microsoft, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (High). An attacker can exploit it by an attacker with local access, with low privileges and without user interaction. Microsoft has not reported exploitation in the wild and rates exploitation as more likely. The EPSS model estimates a 0.93% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 61% of all scored vulnerabilities. Microsoft released the fix on 7 April 2025 in the April 2025 Patch Tuesday, delivered through 4 security updates (KB5055526, KB5055528, KB5055523, KB5055527). It affects 11 products in 2 product families (Windows, ESU).
Key facts
- CVE ID
- CVE-2025-29812
- Severity
- High CVSS 7.8
- Microsoft severity
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of Privilege
- Exploited in the wild
- No
- Publicly disclosed
- No
- Exploitation likelihood
- More Likely
- Weakness
- CWE-822
- EPSS
- 0.93% (percentile 61%)
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Released
- Last updated
- Patch Tuesday
- April 2025 Patch Tuesday
- Product families
- Windows, ESU
CVSS score and vector
Microsoft scores CVE-2025-29812 at 7.8 (temporal 6.8) using CVSS 3.1. 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
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack vector | Local |
| Attack complexity | Low |
| Privileges required | Low |
| User interaction | None |
| Scope | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality impact | High |
| Integrity impact | High |
| Availability impact | High |
| Exploit code maturity | Unproven |
| Remediation level | Official fix |
| Report confidence | Confirmed |
Description
Untrusted pointer dereference in Windows Kernel Memory allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Frequently asked questions (Microsoft)
What privileges could be gained by an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain SYSTEM privileges.
Affected products (11)
Windows
| Product | Security update | Type | Fixed build | Restart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Server 2022 | KB5055526 | Security Update | 10.0.20348.3453 | Yes |
| Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation) | KB5055526 | Security Update | 10.0.20348.3453 | Yes |
| Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) | KB5055523 | Security Update | 10.0.26100.3775 | Yes |
| Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems | ||||
| Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems | ||||
| Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation) | KB5055527 | Security Update | 10.0.25398.1551 | Yes |
| Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems | KB5055523 | Security Update | 10.0.26100.3775 | Yes |
| Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems | KB5055523 | Security Update | 10.0.26100.3775 | Yes |
| Windows Server 2025 | KB5055523 | Security Update | 10.0.26100.3775 | Yes |
ESU
Security updates (4)
NIST NVD data
- NVD status
- Analyzed
- NVD CVSS
- 7.8 (HIGH)
- NVD weakness
- CWE-822
- Published to NVD
- NVD last modified
Affected configurations (CPE)
| Product | Vulnerable versions |
|---|---|
| windows 11 22h2 | before 10.0.22621.5189 |
| windows 11 23h2 | before 10.0.22631.5189 |
| windows 11 24h2 | before 10.0.26100.3775 |
| windows server 2022 | before 10.0.20348.3453 |
| windows server 2022 23h2 | before 10.0.25398.1551 |
| windows server 2025 | before 10.0.26100.3775 |
References
- https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-29812 (Vendor Advisory)
Acknowledgments
- Micky Thongam - HackSys Inc working with Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative
Revision history
| Version | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Information published. |