Microsoft March Patch Tuesday: Over 50 Vulnerabilities, Including Seven Active Zero-Days

Microsoft’s March Patch Tuesday release has once again raised the stakes for system administrators, introducing over 50 new vulnerabilities to address, including seven zero-day vulnerabilities. With six of them actively being exploited in the wild, IT professionals are under increased pressure to manage the risks and mitigate potential breaches. Here’s a breakdown of the vulnerabilities and their severity, along with insights into the critical issues and advice on patching.

Key Vulnerabilities to Address

This month’s patch release includes several significant security flaws. The most concerning are the seven zero-day vulnerabilities, six of which are being actively exploited. Here’s a closer look at the most critical:

CVE-2025-26633: A security feature bypass in the Microsoft Management Console with a CVSS score of 7.0.
CVE-2025-24993: A remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in Windows NTFS with a CVSS score of 7.8.
CVE-2025-24991: An information disclosure vulnerability in Windows NTFS, rated with a CVSS score of 5.5.
CVE-2025-24985: An RCE vulnerability in the Windows Fast FAT File System Driver, which also scores 7.8.
CVE-2025-24984: Another information disclosure bug in Windows NTFS, but with a slightly lower CVSS score of 4.6.
CVE-2025-24983: An elevation of privilege (EoP) vulnerability in the Windows Win32 Kernel Subsystem with a CVSS score of 7.0.

Additionally, there’s CVE-2025-26630, an RCE vulnerability in Microsoft Access. While it’s been publicly disclosed, it has not yet been exploited. With a CVSS score of 7.8, it’s categorized as “important.” Experts note that, though the vulnerability could provide attackers with additional information to create an exploit, the absence of code samples means attackers would need to exert extra effort to exploit it.

The release also lists 23 EoP and 23 RCE vulnerabilities, with six critical RCE vulnerabilities, including CVE-2025-24084, which affects the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) kernel. This vulnerability could be triggered by receiving a malicious email, without any user interaction, making it particularly alarming for users who rely on email communication.

CVE-2025-26645, another critical RCE vulnerability, affects Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). It allows attackers to execute remote code on a client simply by waiting for a vulnerable RDP client to connect, potentially enabling lateral movement within an organization’s network.

What Undercode Says: Analysis of the Latest Patch Tuesday Vulnerabilities

March’s Patch Tuesday comes with a heavy burden on the shoulders of system administrators who must ensure that their organizations stay ahead of attackers exploiting these vulnerabilities. The sheer volume of vulnerabilities and the presence of multiple zero-days should highlight the importance of swift patching.

One key takeaway is that remote code execution (RCE) vulnerabilities are the most critical, as they allow attackers to take full control of affected systems. Of particular concern are the RCE vulnerabilities related to NTFS and Fast FAT File System Driver. These vulnerabilities could potentially lead to full system compromises, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely, making them an attractive target for exploitation.

Furthermore, the presence of multiple elevation of privilege (EoP) vulnerabilities in critical system components like the Windows Win32 Kernel subsystem and the WSL2 kernel suggests an increased focus on targeting the internal security mechanisms of the Windows operating system. An attacker exploiting such vulnerabilities could escalate their privileges to gain administrative access, compromising the security of the entire system.

The RDP vulnerability is also worth noting, especially in the current environment where remote work is more common. The ability for attackers to exploit this vulnerability with minimal user interaction—simply by having a vulnerable client connect to a malicious RDP server—raises significant concerns for the security of corporate networks. Administrators should ensure that their RDP clients are patched, and where possible, implement additional security measures like two-factor authentication or VPNs to prevent such attacks.

As Microsoft continues to address vulnerabilities, administrators should prioritize patching according to risk. Critical RCE vulnerabilities, especially those related to NTFS and RDP, should be patched first. Additionally, the fact that six of the zero-day vulnerabilities are already actively exploited means that patching should be done as soon as possible to prevent a breach.

Another important consideration is the advice provided by Chris Goettl of Ivanti regarding CVE-2025-26630, which, despite being publicly disclosed, has not yet been exploited due to the lack of functional exploit code. This insight suggests that while the vulnerability is important, its exploitation is still in the theoretical stage, making it less urgent than other zero-days.

Overall, system administrators need to adopt a proactive approach in addressing these vulnerabilities, with a focus on critical RCE vulnerabilities, EoP issues, and high-risk attack vectors like RDP and NTFS. Given the growing trend of exploitation, quick patching is essential to maintaining security.

Fact Checker Results:

CVE-2025-26633: Verified as an active exploit targeting the Microsoft Management Console.
CVE-2025-24993: Confirmed as an RCE vulnerability in Windows NTFS, actively exploited in the wild.
CVE-2025-24991: Validated as an information disclosure vulnerability in Windows NTFS, posing a medium-level threat.

References:

Reported By: https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/microsoft-patches-seven-zerodays/
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