Microsoft February 2025 Patch Tuesday: Key Vulnerabilities and Analysis

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2025-02-11

Microsoft’s February 2025 Patch Tuesday has arrived, bringing security updates for 55 vulnerabilities, including four zero-day exploits—two of which are actively being used in attacks. This month’s update addresses three critical remote code execution (RCE) vulnerabilities and various other security issues across Windows, Microsoft Office, Edge, and additional Microsoft services. Given the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, organizations must quickly assess and deploy these patches to mitigate risks.

Key Fixes

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– 19 elevation of privilege vulnerabilities

– 22 remote code execution vulnerabilities

– 9 denial-of-service vulnerabilities

– 3 spoofing vulnerabilities

– 2 security feature bypass vulnerabilities

– 1 information disclosure vulnerability

Actively Exploited Zero-Days

  1. CVE-2025-21391 – Windows Storage Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

– Exploited to delete targeted files on a system, potentially disrupting services.

  1. CVE-2025-21418 – Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Elevation of Privilege

– Allows attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges.

Publicly Disclosed Zero-Days

1. CVE-2025-21194 – Microsoft Surface Security Feature Bypass

  • Bypasses UEFI protections, compromising the hypervisor and secure kernel.

2. CVE-2025-21377 – NTLM Hash Disclosure Spoofing Vulnerability

  • Enables remote attackers to capture and misuse NTLM hashes for authentication attacks.

Other Notable Vendor Patches

  • Adobe addressed security flaws in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Animate.
  • AMD released firmware updates to prevent CPU microcode attacks.
  • Apple patched a zero-day used in advanced attacks.

– Google fixed an Android Kernel vulnerability.

  • Fortinet, Cisco, and Netgear released security updates for network hardware.

What Undercode Says: A Deeper Look into the Threat Landscape

Microsoft’s February 2025 Patch Tuesday highlights an ongoing cybersecurity arms race between attackers and defenders. With critical zero-days actively being exploited, organizations cannot afford to delay patch deployment. Below are key takeaways and strategic insights from Undercode.

The Rise of Elevation of Privilege Attacks

This update includes 19 elevation of privilege vulnerabilities, two of which are being actively exploited. Attackers favor these exploits as they provide a foothold for further network infiltration. The Windows Storage vulnerability (CVE-2025-21391) is particularly concerning because it enables attackers to delete critical files, potentially leading to system downtime. Organizations should closely monitor file integrity and privilege escalation attempts.

UEFI Exploits Pose Severe Risks

The Microsoft Surface Security Feature Bypass (CVE-2025-21194) reveals how attackers are increasingly targeting UEFI security layers. Given the reliance on UEFI for low-level system integrity, this type of exploit could be used to install persistent malware. Enterprises should ensure they have secure boot mechanisms properly configured and consider using Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions to monitor firmware-level threats.

NTLM Hash Attacks: An Ongoing Challenge

NTLM hash disclosure vulnerabilities have been a known attack vector for years, yet they continue to surface in Patch Tuesday updates. CVE-2025-21377 demonstrates how attackers can exploit minimal user interaction—such as right-clicking a file—to leak credentials. This vulnerability underscores the need for stronger authentication mechanisms, such as Kerberos or passwordless solutions.

The Expanding Attack Surface

With patches covering Windows, Office, Edge, and cloud services, attackers have an expanding list of potential targets. Organizations must move beyond traditional patch management strategies and adopt a zero-trust security model, segmenting networks to minimize lateral movement.

Patch Fatigue vs. Security Urgency

IT teams often struggle with “patch fatigue” due to the overwhelming volume of security updates. However, delaying patches—especially for actively exploited zero-days—leaves systems vulnerable. Automated patching tools and vulnerability management solutions can help organizations prioritize critical updates.

Supply Chain and Third-Party Risks

Other vendors, such as AMD, Apple, and Fortinet, also issued patches this month. This highlights the interconnected nature of modern IT infrastructure—where vulnerabilities in third-party software or hardware can expose entire networks. Enterprises should assess their supply chain risks and apply patches across all endpoints, not just Microsoft products.

Final Recommendations

1. Apply patches immediately—especially for actively exploited zero-days.

  1. Monitor system logs and network activity for signs of exploitation.
  2. Harden authentication mechanisms by disabling NTLM where possible.
  3. Use security baselines to enforce best practices across endpoints.
  4. Consider endpoint protection solutions with AI-driven anomaly detection.

Microsoft’s February 2025 Patch Tuesday serves as a stark reminder that cyber threats are evolving rapidly. Staying ahead requires a proactive security approach—one that prioritizes patching, zero-trust policies, and continuous monitoring.

References:

Reported By: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-february-2025-patch-tuesday-fixes-4-zero-days-55-flaws/
https://stackoverflow.com
Wikipedia: https://www.wikipedia.org
Undercode AI: https://ai.undercodetesting.com

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