CVE-2025-24996 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting various versions of Microsoft Windows. This vulnerability allows unauthorized attackers to perform spoofing over a network due to external control of file names or paths in Windows NTLM. With a CVSS score of 6.5, organizations must recognize the potential implications of this flaw in their systems.
This vulnerability poses a substantial risk to organizations, particularly those using impacted versions of Windows 10 and Windows Server. The ability to spoof file names or paths can lead to unauthorized access or manipulation of files, potentially resulting in further exploitation.
Given the medium severity of this vulnerability and the lack of confirmed exploits, organizations should still address it promptly to prevent any potential misuse.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to reduce susceptibility to this vulnerability and protect their networks from possible attacks.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is classified as CVE-2025-24996, with an official description stating: 'External control of file name or path in Windows NTLM allows an unauthorized attacker to perform spoofing over a network.' It falls under CWE-73, indicating improper neutralization of special elements used in an output.
The CVSS score of 6.5 suggests a medium severity level, indicating that while the risk is significant, it may not be as critical as higher-scoring vulnerabilities. The affected products include several versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server, with the vulnerability being present across multiple editions.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of file name or path inputs in the NTLM authentication protocol. Attackers may leverage this flaw through a network attack vector, exploiting low attack complexity and requiring no privileges.
User interaction is required for this vulnerability, making it somewhat less attractive for attackers, but it still poses a significant threat. The potential impact includes high confidentiality risk, with no integrity or availability impact associated.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2025-24996 is significant, especially for organizations that have not implemented the latest security updates. With the ability to spoof file names and paths, attackers could manipulate data or gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The blast radius potential is concerning, as multiple Windows operating systems are affected. This broad impact underscores the urgency for organizations to address the vulnerability in their patch cycle.
Organizations should assess their risk based on the CVSS score and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly, recognizing the medium severity of the vulnerability.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions for this vulnerability include various editions of Windows 10 and Windows Server, specifically:
Windows 10 versions: 1507, 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2; Windows 11 versions: 22H2, 23H2, 24H2; Windows Server versions: 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2022 23H2, and 2025.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should monitor for updates from Microsoft and apply all available patches to remediate this vulnerability. Regularly updating systems is essential to maintaining security and reducing the risk of exploitation.
In addition to applying patches, organizations should consider implementing security best practices such as configuration hardening and access controls to further mitigate potential risks.
For further guidance on security best practices, organizations can refer to the penetration testing methodology for assessing and improving their security posture.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of CVE-2025-24996, organizations should monitor logs for unusual file access patterns and authentication attempts. Behavioral anomalies may indicate an attempt to exploit this vulnerability.
Establishing network signatures that flag unusual NTLM authentication requests can also assist in identifying potential attack attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2025-24996 highlights the importance of maintaining strict controls over file name and path inputs in network protocols. This vulnerability serves as a reminder for organizations to evaluate their NTLM configurations and ensure proper validation mechanisms are in place.
As the threat landscape evolves, organizations must remain vigilant and adapt their security measures accordingly. For more insights on securing Windows environments, organizations can explore our Windows security best practices guide.
Furthermore, organizations should consider investing in continuous security assessments to proactively identify vulnerabilities and strengthen their defenses. Our continuous penetration testing services can help organizations stay ahead of potential threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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