Description

CVE-2025-29824 is a use-after-free vulnerability within the Windows Common Log File System (CLFS) driver. Successful exploitation allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. While the CVSS score is 7.8 (High), the SOCRadar Vulnerability Risk Score (SVRS) is 48, indicating a moderate risk that doesn't require immediate action but needs monitoring. The presence of active exploits, use in the wild, and a CISA KEV designation highlight the practical and immediate danger.

Key Insights

1. Privilege Escalation: The core impact of CVE-2025-29824 is local privilege escalation. An attacker who already has some level of access to a system can leverage this vulnerability to gain higher-level privileges, potentially leading to full system control.
2. Active Exploitation & Exploit Availability: The "Exploit Available" tag and the statement on active exploits emphasizes that this isn't just a theoretical risk. Publicly available exploits lower the barrier to entry for attackers, significantly increasing the likelihood of exploitation. The "In The Wild" Tag also suggests it is an active threat.
3. CISA KEV Designation: The inclusion of "CISA KEV" (CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities) as a tag is significant. It indicates that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has warned of the vulnerability, calling for immediate and necessary measures, and requires federal civilian executive branch agencies to remediate it within a specified timeframe. This also indirectly shows the vulnerability has been used in the wild.
4. CWE-416: The CWE-416, or use-after-free, implies that the CLFS driver is improperly managing memory. After a memory location is freed, it is still referenced, causing corruption or allowing arbitrary code execution if the freed memory is reallocated for a different purpose.

Mitigation Strategies

1. Apply Windows Security Updates Immediately: Given the presence of active exploits, the CISA KEV designation, and the vulnerability being exploited in the wild, the highest priority is to apply the official security patch released by Microsoft for CVE-2025-29824. Prioritize systems that are publicly accessible or those that handle sensitive data.
2. Monitor System Logs for Suspicious Activity: Implement robust monitoring of system logs for any unusual or unauthorized activity, especially events related to the CLFS driver or privilege escalation attempts. This can help detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts before significant damage occurs.
3. Implement Least Privilege Principle: Enforce the principle of least privilege to limit the impact of a successful privilege escalation. Ensure that users and processes only have the minimum level of access required to perform their duties. This will help to contain any damage that might be caused by an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability.
4. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Systems: Ensure that Endpoint Detection and Response(EDR) is properly configured to identify use-after-free vulnerabilities and exploit attempts and also to have automatic responses set up to automatically quarantine malicious files and processes.

Additional Information

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