In the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, vulnerabilities in widely used systems such as Windows NTLM (NT LAN Manager) remain critical points of interest for attackers. A specific weakness, identified under CVE-2025-XXXX, has been reported to allow unauthorized users to manipulate file paths or names. This flaw, in turn, can enable attackers to spoof credentials over a network, potentially leading to further exploitation.
This vulnerability is linked to improper validation of file paths or file names within NTLM, a suite of security protocols employed in Microsoft Windows networks. This flaw can be exploited by a remote attacker with minimal privileges, which significantly elevates the risk of network-based attacks. The vulnerability is not only concerning due to its severity but also because it can affect multiple versions of Windows.
Vulnerability Details
The CVE-2025-XXXX vulnerability centers around the external control of file names or paths within the Windows NTLM protocol, which could be exploited for network-based spoofing. Attackers could leverage this weakness to mislead the system into accepting fraudulent data, ultimately leading to unauthorized access or manipulation of sensitive resources.
Key CVE Record Information:
- Description: Unauthorized attackers can manipulate file names or paths, enabling spoofing attacks over a network.
– CVSS Score: 6.5 (Medium)
– CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
- Impact: High confidentiality exposure, no integrity or availability impact.
- Affected Versions: The issue persists across multiple versions, though specific affected versions have not been disclosed by the vendor.
- Vendor Reference: Microsoft Security Advisory [msrc.microsoft.com: NTLM Hash Disclosure Spoofing Vulnerability vendor-advisory]
The severity of this vulnerability is classified as “Medium,” according to the CVSS 3.1 score, reflecting the possibility of moderate risk from remote exploitation. While the attack vector requires network access, which limits immediate exposure, successful exploitation can lead to serious security breaches, especially in environments where network security protocols are not sufficiently strong.
What Undercode Say:
This vulnerability, while not as high profile as others like the SMB vulnerabilities of the past, is a reminder of how seemingly minor flaws in a widely-used protocol can have significant consequences for organizations. The ability to externally control file names or paths within NTLM opens up an avenue for attackers to execute spoofing attacks with little effort. By manipulating these elements, an attacker could impersonate a legitimate user, bypassing authentication measures designed to protect sensitive data.
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One of the critical aspects that make this vulnerability concerning is its accessibility. Since NTLM is commonly deployed in a wide range of network environments, from small businesses to large enterprises, its exploitation could allow an attacker to gain a foothold in otherwise secure networks. With the right tools and techniques, an adversary could escalate their privileges and potentially cause more severe damage.
What makes this even more problematic is the ambiguity around which versions of Windows are most affected. This “unknown” status regarding the specific versions of Windows vulnerable to CVE-2025-XXXX can lead to confusion within the cybersecurity community, leaving administrators unsure about how widespread the vulnerability is and how urgently they need to act.
Additionally, many organizations continue to use NTLM due to legacy system dependencies or lack of awareness regarding the available security improvements, such as Kerberos. This reliance on outdated security protocols exacerbates the risk associated with this vulnerability.
The ongoing nature of this vulnerability, combined with a lack of clarity on affected systems, emphasizes the need for comprehensive security auditing. Organizations should regularly review their network configurations, especially those that rely on NTLM for authentication, and consider transitioning to more secure alternatives, such as Kerberos or modern multi-factor authentication solutions, where possible.
Fact Checker Results:
- Vulnerability Impact: A successful exploit of this flaw allows attackers to spoof file names and paths, facilitating unauthorized access and exploitation.
- Severity Assessment: Despite the medium CVSS score, the real-world implications could be far-reaching, especially in larger organizations with high-value assets or legacy systems still using NTLM.
- Affected Versions: The exact versions impacted remain unspecified, though NTLM is widely used across different Windows versions, raising the stakes for enterprises yet to mitigate this risk.
References:
Reported By: www.cve.org
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