CVE-2025-24991: Microsoft Windows NTFS Out-Of-Bounds Read Vulnerability
Microsoft · Windows · NVD published 2025-03-11 · posted 2025-03-11 · last modified 2026-06-17
What it is
Out-of-bounds read in Windows NTFS allows an authorized attacker to disclose information locally.
| Weakness | CWE-125 |
|---|---|
| CVSS vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N (source: [email protected]) |
| CISA due date | 2025-04-01 (for US federal agencies under BOD; a good deadline for everyone) |
| ATT&CK tactics | Initial Access → Lateral Movement → Collection |
Exploitation evidence
First exploit evidence seen: 2025-03-11 (earliest date across the sources below).
Exploited in the wild
- CISA KEV: listed since 2025-03-11. Source
Sources: CISA KEV.
Defend the Chain
The attack chain for CVE-2025-24991 laid across the MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise tactics. Solid cards come from the MITRE CTID KEV mappings; dashed cards are inferred by CVERadar from the CWE or description. Correct defences are real ATT&CK mitigations for that technique.
Pick a red technique card on the board, then choose the defence that stops it.
Defend against T1091 Replication Through Removable Media CTID: exploitation technique
This vulnerability is facilitated by the insertion of information into log files, which could lead to the disclosure of said sensitive information through an attack. In order to exploit this vulnerability, an attacker needs physical access to the system, such as the ability to mount an external drive.
How to fix it
CISA required action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. (source: CISA KEV)
Fixed versions
- microsoft windows 10 1507: upgrade to 10.0.10240.20947 or later
- microsoft windows 10 1607: upgrade to 10.0.14393.7876 or later
- microsoft windows 10 1809: upgrade to 10.0.17763.7009 or later
- microsoft windows 10 21h2: upgrade to 10.0.19044.5608 or later
- microsoft windows 10 22h2: upgrade to 10.0.19045.5608 or later
- microsoft windows 11 22h2: upgrade to 10.0.22621.5039 or later
- microsoft windows 11 23h2: upgrade to 10.0.22631.5039 or later
- microsoft windows 11 24h2: upgrade to 10.0.26100.3403 or later
- microsoft windows server 2016: upgrade to 10.0.14393.7876 or later
- microsoft windows server 2019: upgrade to 10.0.17763.7009 or later
- microsoft windows server 2022: upgrade to 10.0.20348.3270 or later
- microsoft windows server 2022 23h2: upgrade to 10.0.25398.1486 or later
- microsoft windows server 2025: upgrade to 10.0.26100.3403 or later
Derived from the NVD CPE configuration (versionEndExcluding / versionEndIncluding). Always confirm with the vendor advisory.
Vendor advisories and patches
- https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/en-US/vulnerability/CVE-2025-24991 (CISA KEV notes)
- https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-24991 (Vendor Advisory)
MITRE ATT&CK mitigations for this chain
- M1042 Disable or Remove Feature or Program (for T1091) : Disable Autorun if it is unnecessary. Disallow or restrict removable media at an organizational policy level if it is not required for business operations.
- M1034 Limit Hardware Installation (for T1091) : Limit the use of USB devices and removable media within a network.
- M1040 Behavior Prevention on Endpoint (for T1091) : On Windows 10, enable Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) rules to block unsigned/untrusted executable files (such as .exe, .dll, or .scr) from running from USB removable drives.
- M1057 Data Loss Prevention (for T1005) : Data loss prevention can restrict access to sensitive data and detect sensitive data that is unencrypted.
Detection Generic guidance
- Initial Access: Alert on unusual requests to the affected service (odd paths, oversized payloads, exploit strings) in WAF, reverse-proxy and application logs.
- Lateral Movement: Watch for the compromised host authenticating to other internal systems it does not normally talk to.
- Collection: Watch for bulk reads of databases, file shares or mailboxes by the affected service.
Response checklist Generic guidance
- Inventory: find every instance of the affected product and version (include internet-facing and forgotten ones).
- Patch or mitigate per the vendor advisory; if you cannot patch, remove internet exposure or apply the vendor workaround.
- Assume compromise if the system was exposed before patching: hunt for the indicators in the advisory and review logs back to the disclosure date.
- Rotate credentials and secrets stored on or used by the affected system if compromise cannot be ruled out.