CVE-2025-32709KEV · OVERDUECWE-416

Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

High · published May 13, 2025

Patch now

Confirmed exploited, and the score agrees

CVSS calls it high at 7.8. It is confirmed in active exploitation. It sits in the 78.6th percentile for exploit probability.

507
days past CISA
deadline
CVSS v3.1
7.8
EPSS
2%
Percentile
78.6
In the wild
Confirmed
What it is

🚨 A null pointer dereference in the Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock could let an attacker elevate their privileges locally – imagine granting someone VIP access without checking their ID! ⚡ Think of it like allowing a guest into a party just because they found an open door – no one is checking who they are or if they should even be there! This vulnerability lets unauthorized users gain elevated access, potentially wreaking havoc. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain high-level permissions on the system, leading to unauthorized actions such as altering system settings, accessing sensitive data, or installing malicious software. The consequences could be absolutely devastating, especially in environments where sensitive information is handled.

Put simply

Think of it like allowing a guest into a party just because they found an open door – no one is checking who they are or if they should even be there! This vulnerability lets unauthorized users gain elevated access, potentially wreaking havoc. This vulnerability arises from a null pointer dereference in the Windows Ancillary Function Driver, allowing authorized users to bypass security controls and elevate their privilege level on the system.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain high-level permissions on the system, leading to unauthorized actions such as altering system settings, accessing sensitive data, or installing malicious software. The consequences could be absolutely devastating, especially in environments where sensitive information is handled. To protect your systems, apply the latest security patch from Microsoft immediately. Conduct a thorough audit of user permissions to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive functions. Regularly review and update your security policies to mitigate future risks. You've got this! With these steps, you'll be well on your way to securing your system against this vulnerability. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
7.8 · HIGH
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
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01818 · 78.6th percentile
Weakness
CWE-416 · Use After Free
Published
2025-05-13T16:58Z
KEV added
2025-05-13 · due 2025-06-03
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 13 MAY 16:58Z
    Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
    cvelistv5
  • 13 MAY 00:00Z
    Added to CISA KEV — remediate by Jun 3
    kev