CXO

High-Severity RCE Vulnerability in WinDbg (CVE-2025-24043) 

Security Advisory

A high-severity remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability exists in Microsoft’s WinDbg debugging tool and related .NET diagnostic packages.

The vulnerability poses severe supply chain risks, as WinDbg is widely embedded in CI/CD pipelines and enterprise developer toolchains.

Compromised debugging sessions could lead to lateral movement across networks, credential theft, persistent backdoor injections, and disruption of crash dump analysis workflows.

Microsoft confirmed no viable workarounds other than immediate patching, as the lack of certificate pinning in the affected packages worsens the risk, enabling attackers to leverage forged or stolen Microsoft Authenticode certificates.

OEM Microsoft 
Severity HIGH 
CVSS 7.5  
CVEs CVE-2025-24043 
Publicly POC Available No 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

This issue is caused by insufficient validation of cryptographic signatures in the SOS debugging extension, potentially allowing attackers with network access to execute arbitrary code. Microsoft has released patches to address the vulnerability. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity 
 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability  CVE-2025-24043  Microsoft Windows   High 

Technical Summary 

The vulnerability arises from the SOS debugging extension’s failure to properly validate cryptographic signatures during debugging operations.

This enables attackers with authenticated network access to inject malicious debugging components, leading to arbitrary code execution with SYSTEM privileges. The attack vector leverages NuGet package integrations in Visual Studio and .NET CLI environments, increasing the risk of supply chain compromises. 

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
 CVE-2025-24043  WinDbg and associated .NET diagnostic packages   Flaw in cryptographic signature validation in the SOS debugging extension allows tampered components to be loaded.  Arbitrary code execution  

Remediation

  • Update Affected Packages: Ensure that all instances of affected NuGet packages are updated to the latest patched versions. Refer to the table below for the affected and patched versions. 
  •  Upgrade WinDbg: Make sure that WinDbg is updated to the most recent release available. 
  • Audit Dependencies: Review all .NET Core project dependencies to identify and replace vulnerable packages. 
  • Monitor Network Activity: Implement monitoring for any suspicious network activity related to windbg.exe. 
  • Enforce Security Policies: Apply security policies, such as Windows Defender Application Control, to prevent the execution of unsigned debugging components. 

The table below outlines the affected and patched versions of the relevant packages: 

Package Name Affected Version Patched Version 
dotnet-sos < 9.0.607501 9.0.607501 
dotnet-dump < 9.0.557512 9.0.607501 
dotnet-debugger-extensions 9.0.557512 9.0.607601 

Conclusion: 

CVE-2025-24043 highlights the need to secure developer toolchains, as debugging environments are becoming more targeted in cyberattacks. Organizations using .NET diagnostics should quickly apply patches and implement strict security measures to reduce the risk of exploitation. With no effective workarounds available, postponing remediation heightens the chances of an attack. Prompt action is essential to safeguard critical development and production environments. 

The security impact extends beyond developers, as the exploitation of debugging tools could facilitate attacks on production infrastructure.

Additional security measures include certificate transparency logging for NuGet packages and enforcing Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) policies to restrict unsigned debugger extensions. While no active exploits have been reported, the patching window is critical, and organizations using .NET diagnostics must act immediately before threat actors weaponize the vulnerability.

References: 

  • https://securityonline.info/windbg-remote-code-execution-vulnerability-cve-2025-24043-exposes-critical-security-risk/ 

PoC Released for High-Severity Linux Kernel UVC Driver Vulnerability

OEMLinux
SeverityHIGH
CVSS7.8
CVEsCVE-2024-53104
Actively ExploitedYes
Publicly POC AvailableYes
Patch/Remediation AvailableYes
Advisory Version1.0

Overview

CVE-2024-53104 is a high-severity out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the Linux kernel’s USB Video Class (UVC) driver, leading to privilege escalation. The issue affects Linux kernel versions 2.6.26 and later. The vulnerability has gained renewed attention as a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit has now been publicly released, increasing the risk of exploitation. A patch has been released to address this vulnerability, but unpatched systems remain at high risk.

Vulnerability NameCVE IDProduct AffectedSeverity
  out-of-bounds write vulnerability  CVE-2024-53104  Linux Kernel    High

Technical Summary

The vulnerability exists in the uvc_parse_format function of the UVC driver (uvc_driver.c). It arises due to improper parsing of UVC_VS_UNDEFINED frames, leading to incorrect buffer allocation and out-of-bounds writes.

An attacker could exploit this flaw by inserting a malicious USB device or manipulating video streams, potentially leading to memory corruption, privilege escalation, or arbitrary code execution.

CVE IDSystem AffectedVulnerability DetailsImpact
  CVE-2024-53104    Linux Kernel (2.6.26 and later)  Incorrect parsing of UVC_VS_UNDEFINED frames in uvc_parse_format, leading to miscalculated buffer sizes and memory corruption.    Privilege escalation, system instability, arbitrary code execution  

Remediation:

  • Apply Security Patches: Ensure that the latest security patches provided by the Linux distribution maintainers are promptly applied to mitigate vulnerability.

Recommendations

  • Implement USB Device Control Policies: Organizations should establish and enforce USB device control policies to prevent unauthorized usage and ensure only approved devices can be connected.
  • Deploy Log Monitoring and Analysis Tools: Implement security monitoring tools to continuously monitor logs for potential security incidents, such as exploitation attempts or suspicious activity.

Conclusion:

CVE-2024-53104 is a major vulnerability that poses a substantial risk to Linux systems since it allows for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. Users and administrators are strongly urged to apply the latest security patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Additionally, implementing a multi-layered security approach can further enhance system protection.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) list, emphasizing the need for immediate remediation.

CISA has ordered federal agencies to secure their systems within three weeks against a high-severity Linux kernel flaw actively exploited in attacks.

References:

Critical Security Flaw in Kibana Requires Immediate Attention 

Kibana is a robust tool for data visualization and exploration that can be used to search, examine, and track data that is stored in Elasticsearch. A vital part of many organizations’ data analysis procedures, it offers real-time insights through interactive dashboards. 

Elastic released security updates to address a critical vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-25012 (CVSS score of 9.9), impacting the Kibana data visualization dashboard software for Elasticsearch.

OEM Elastic 
Severity Critical 
CVSS 9.9 
CVEs CVE-2025-25012 
Exploited in Wild No 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

A critical security vulnerability (CVE-2025-25012) has been identified in Kibana, affecting versions 8.15.0 to 8.17.2. The flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially compromising affected systems. Elastic has released a patch in Kibana version 8.17.3to address this issue, and users are strongly advised to update immediately. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity 
 Arbitrary code execution Vulnerability  CVE-2025-25012  Elastic  Critical 

Technical Summary 

This vulnerability arises from improper handling of JavaScript object prototypes in Kibana’s file upload and HTTP request processing functionalities.

Attackers can exploit this flaw to inject malicious payloads, modify application behavior, and execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-1321 (Improper Control of Prototype-Based Attribute Modifications) and aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework under tactic T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter). 

Affected Versions and Exploitation Conditions: 

  • Kibana 8.15.0 – 8.17.0: Exploitable by users with the Viewer role. 
  • Kibana 8.17.1 – 8.17.2: Requires privileges fleet-all, integrations-all, and actions:execute-advanced-connectors. 
CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
  CVE-2025-25012   Kibana 8.15.0 – 8.17.2   Prototype pollution via crafted file uploads and HTTP requests, allowing manipulation of JavaScript object properties and security controls.  Remote Code Execution, Unauthorized Data Access, Lateral Movement  

Remediation

  • Upgrade: Elastic has released a security patch to address the issue. It is highly recommended to upgrade to Kibana 8.17.3 or a later version 
  • Temporary Mitigation: If upgrading is not feasible in the short term, apply the following measure to reduce risk: 
  • Disable the Integration Assistant feature by setting xpack.integration_assistant.enabled: false in kibana.yml. 

Conclusion: 

Organizations utilizing Kibana should take urgent action to patch CVE-2025-25012 by upgrading to version 8.17.3.

The vulnerability is highly severe, particularly for environments using Kibana for security monitoring, as attackers could exploit this flaw to disable alerts and manipulate detection pipelines. If patching is not immediately possible, temporary mitigations should be applied to reduce the risk of exploitation. Ensuring real-time vulnerability monitoring and implementing strict access controls are also recommended to safeguard against similar threats in the future. 

References: 

Image 

Critical VMware Vulnerabilities Exploited in the Wild – Patch Immediately 

Broadcom released a security alert on Tuesday morning to warn VMware customers about three zero-days that have been exploited in the wild.

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High-Severity DoS Vulnerability in Cisco NX-OS Software

MPLS Encapsulated IPv6 Denial of Service Vulnerability

OEM CISCO 
Severity High 
CVSS score 7.4 
CVEs CVE-2025-20111 
Exploited in Wild No 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

A high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2025-20111) in Cisco Nexus 3000 and 9000 Series Switches operating in standalone NX-OS mode could allow unauthenticated attackers to trigger a denial-of-service (DoS) condition by sending crafted ethernet frames, leading to unexpected device reloads. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity 
 Denial of service vulnerability  CVE-2025-20111   Cisco Nexus   High 

Technical Summary 

The vulnerability originates from improper handling of specific Ethernet frames within the health monitoring diagnostics of Cisco Nexus switches.

An unauthenticated, adjacent attacker can exploit this flaw by sending a sustained rate of crafted Ethernet frames to a vulnerable device. Successful exploitation results in repeated device reloads, disrupting network operations and potentially impacting high-availability environments. 

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
 CVE-2025-20111  Nexus 3000 Series: 3100, 3200, 3400, and 3600 models Nexus 9000 Series: 9200, 9300, and 9400 switches running standalone NX-OS Improper handling of specific Ethernet frames in health monitoring diagnostics  Repeated device reboots, potential network downtime  

Remediation

  • Apply Software Updates: Cisco has released patched software versions to address the vulnerability. Network administrators should upgrade affected devices immediately. 
  • Use Cisco Software Checker: Organizations should verify their exposure using Cisco’s Software Checker tool to identify the earliest fixed release. 
  • Implement Workarounds: If immediate patching is not feasible, organizations can mitigate risks using Access Control Lists (ACLs) to filter anomalous Ethernet frames targeting the health monitoring subsystem. 

Conclusion: 

CVE-2025-20111 presents a significant risk to enterprise and data center networks relying on Cisco Nexus switches. While there is no known active exploitation, organizations should prioritize patching and mitigation strategies to prevent service disruptions. Proactive monitoring and adherence to Cisco’s security advisories will help ensure network resilience against potential exploitation. 

References: 

Critical WordPress Security Flaw in Everest Forms Plugin 

UAE Cyber Security Council has observed a critical vulnerability in Everest Forms WordPress
plugin

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Palo Alto Firewall Vulnerabilities Under Active Exploitation 

An authentication bypass vulnerability (CVE-2025-0108) in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS allows unauthenticated attackers with network access to bypass authentication on the management web interface.

Summary 

OEM Palo Alto 
Severity High 
Date of Announcement 2025-02-19 
CVEs CVE-2025-0108 
CVSS Score 8.8 
Exploited in Wild Yes 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

‘Palo Alto Networks says threat actors used a publicly available PoC exploit in attack attempts against firewall customers with PAN-OS management interfaces exposed to the internet’.

This poses a significant risk, particularly when the interface is exposed to the internet or untrusted networks. CISA has added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog due to active exploitation. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Affected Version 
 Authentication Bypass Vulnerability  CVE-2025-0108  Pan OS         High PAN-OS 10.1: 10.1.0 through 10.1.14 PAN-OS 10.2: 10.2.0 through 10.2.13 PAN-OS 11.1: 11.1.0* through 11.1.6 PAN-OS 11.2: 11.2.0 through 11.2.4 

Technical Summary 

This authentication bypass flaw enables attackers to invoke specific PHP scripts without proper authorization, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the system. Attackers are chaining it with CVE-2024-9474 and CVE-2025-0111 to target unpatched instances. The risk is highest when the management interface is exposed directly to the internet, potentially enabling unauthorized access and manipulation of system configurations. 

Vulnerability Name Details Severity Impact 
 Authentication Bypass Vulnerability  This is an authentication bypass in PAN-OS allowing unauthenticated attackers to invoke PHP scripts on the management interface, compromising system integrity. The vulnerability is critical when exposed to the internet and can be exploited by chaining CVE-2024-9474 and CVE-2025-0111.         High Root access of the affected system, unauthorized file exfiltration. 

Recommendations 

  • Apply the security updates released on February 12, 2025, for PAN-OS versions 10.1, 10.2, 11.1, and 11.2 immediately. 

Here are the details of the required upgrades: 

Version Updated Version 
PAN-OS 11.2 Upgrade to 11.2.4-h4 or later 
PAN-OS 11.1 Upgrade to 11.1.6-h1 or later 
PAN-OS 10.2 Upgrade to 10.2.13-h3 or later 
PAN-OS 10.1 Upgrade to 10.1.14-h9 or later 

General Recommendations 

  • Restrict access to PAN-OS management interfaces to trusted IPs only. 
  • Continuously monitor for suspicious activity, including unauthorized file access and PHP script executions. 
  • Follow best practices for firewall security, including network segmentation and regular vulnerability assessments. 
  • Block IP addresses reported by GreyNoise that are actively targeting CVE-2025-0108, as well as any additional threat intelligence sources identifying malicious activity. 

Conclusion 

The active exploitation of these vulnerabilities highlights the critical need for timely patch management and robust access controls. Given the increasing attack surface and publicly available proof-of-concept exploits, organizations should prioritize remediation to prevent potential breaches. Palo Alto Networks urges customers to secure their firewalls immediately to mitigate this growing threat. 

The vulnerability is therefore of high severity on the CVSS and users were warned that while the PHP scripts that can be invoked, do not themselves enable remote code execution.

References

  • https://www.securityweek.com/palo-alto-networks-confirms-exploitation-of-firewall-vulnerability/ 
  • https://www.greynoise.io/blog/greynoise-observes-active-exploitation-of-pan-os-authentication-bypass-vulnerability-cve-2025-0108#GreyNoise   

Authentication Bypass Vulnerability in FortiOS & FortiProxy 

Summary 

A critical authentication bypass vulnerability [CWE-288] has been identified in FortiOS and FortiProxy, tracked as CVE-2025-24472 . This is affecting their affecting FortiOS and FortiProxy products and being exploited in the wild.

OEM Fortinet 
Severity Critical 
CVSS 9.6 
CVEs CVE-2025-24472 
Exploited in Wild Yes 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

This flaw, with the CVSSv3 score of 9.6, could allow a remote attacker to obtain super-admin privileges by sending specially crafted requests to the Node.js WebSocket module.

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Affected Version 
Authentication Bypass Vulnerability CVE-2025-24472 FortiOS FortiProxy Critical  FortiOS v7.0 – v7.0.16   FortiProxy v7.0 – v7.0.19 FortiProxy v7.2 – v7.2.12 

Technical Summary 

CVE ID Vulnerability Details Impact 
  CVE-2025-24472   An authentication bypass using an alternate path (CWE-288) vulnerability in FortiOS and FortiProxy , present in certain versions, could enable a remote attacker to obtain super-admin privileges by sending requests to the Node.js websocket module or by crafting CSF proxy requests.   Execute unauthorized code or commands 

Recommendations

  • Update: Ensure that the appropriate patches or updates are applied to the relevant versions listed below 
Version Fixes and Releases 
FortiOS 7.0 – 7.0.16 Upgrade to 7.0.17 or latest version 
FortiProxy 7.0 – 7.0.19 Upgrade to 7.0.20 or latest version 
FortiProxy 7.2 – 7.2.12 Upgrade to 7.2.13 or latest version 

Workarounds: 

Below are some workarounds provided by the Fortinet team. 

  • Disable HTTP/HTTPS administrative interface 
  • Limit IP addresses that can reach the administrative interface via local-in policies 

According to Fortinet, attackers exploit the two vulnerabilities to generate random admin or local users on affected devices, adding them to new and existing SSL VPN user groups. They have also been seen modifying firewall policies and other configurations and accessing SSLVPN instances with previously established rogue accounts “to gain a tunnel to the internal network.network.”

References: 

Microsoft Updates Patch Tuesday for Feb 2025; Address 67 Vulnerabilities, Includes 2 Exploited Zero-Days 

Summary

Microsoft’s February 2025 Patch Tuesday addresses multiple security vulnerabilities, including four zero-days, with two actively exploited in the wild. This update covers a total of 67 security flaws, with three classified as critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities.  

Microsoft  issued a revision for an older zero-day that threatens the latest Windows desktop and server versions.

OEM Microsoft 
Severity Critical 
Date of Announcement 2025-02-11
No. of Vulnerabilities Patched 67 
Actively Exploited Yes 
Exploited in Wild Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

The affected products include Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Surface, and various network services. Organizations are strongly advised to apply these patches immediately to mitigate security risks and potential cyberattacks. 

  • 63 Microsoft CVEs addressed 
  • 4 non-Microsoft CVEs included 

The highlighted vulnerabilities include 4 zero-day flaws, 2 of which are currently being actively exploited. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity CVSS Score 
Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability CVE-2025-21418 Windows High 7.8 
Windows Storage Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability  CVE-2025-21391 Windows High 7.1 
Microsoft Surface Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability CVE-2025-21194 Windows High  7.1 
NTLM Hash Disclosure Spoofing Vulnerability CVE-2025-21377 Windows Medium  6.5 

Technical Summary 

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
  CVE-2025-21418  Windows server and Windows 10 & 11  Windows ancillary function driver for winsock elevation of privilege vulnerability enables attackers to escalate privileges to SYSTEM level. Specific exploitation details are not disclosed.    Unauthorized access with SYSTEM privileges.  
  CVE-2025-21391  Windows server and Windows 10 & 11 Windows storage elevation of privilege vulnerability allows attackers to delete targeted files on a system, potentially leading to service unavailability. Does not expose confidential data.    Deletion of critical data, leading to service disruption. 
  CVE-2025-21194    Microsoft Surface    Microsoft surface security feature bypass vulnerability allows attackers to bypass UEFI protections, compromising the secure kernel. Likely related to “PixieFail” vulnerabilities affecting the IPv6 network stack in Tianocore’s EDK II firmware.    Bypass of security features, potentially compromising system integrity. 
 CVE-2025-21377  Windows server and Windows 10 & 11 NTLM hash disclosure spoofing vulnerability exposes NTLM hashes when a user interacts with a malicious file. Simply selecting or right-clicking a file could trigger a remote connection, allowing an attacker to capture NTLM hashes for cracking or pass-the-hash attacks.   Potential for attackers to authenticate as the user, leading to unauthorized access. 

Source:  Microsoft       

In addition to the actively exploited vulnerabilities, several other critical flaws were also addressed: 

  • CVE-2025-21376: A Windows Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) RCE vulnerability that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely. 
  • CVE-2025-21379: A DHCP Client Service RCE vulnerability that may enable remote attackers to execute code with elevated privileges. 
  • CVE-2025-21381: An RCE vulnerability in Microsoft Excel that could be triggered through malicious spreadsheet files. 

Remediation

  • Apply Updates: Immediately install the February 2025 Patch Tuesday updates to address these vulnerabilities. 

Conclusion: 

The February 2025 Patch Tuesday release addresses critical security vulnerabilities, including actively exploited zero-days. Timely application of these updates is essential to protect systems from potential threats. Organizations should review the affected products and implement the necessary patches and mitigations to maintain security integrity. 

The attack vector is local, meaning the attacker needs local access — physically or remotely, using SSH method without user interaction and if successful in exploiting, can give the attacker system privileges.

References

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