Introduction
Paragon Software’s Hard Disk Manager (HDM) product line has become a prime target for cybercriminals, specifically ransomware groups, who are exploiting a series of vulnerabilities within the BioNTdrv.sys kernel-level driver. These flaws, which have been identified as CVE-2025-0285 through CVE-2025-0289, allow attackers to escalate privileges and execute malicious code, even on systems where Paragon software isn’t installed. The vulnerabilities have been actively exploited by attackers to bypass security controls, posing significant risks to Windows devices. This article delves into the technical breakdown of these vulnerabilities, their exploitation, and what organizations can do to mitigate these risks.
Overview of Paragon Software Vulnerabilities and Their Exploitation
Paragon
Vulnerabilities Breakdown:
- CVE-2025-0288: Improper handling of the
memmovefunction allows attackers to write arbitrary data into kernel memory, which could lead to privilege escalation. - CVE-2025-0287: Null pointer dereference, which occurs due to missing validation of the
MasterLrpstructure in input buffers, enables arbitrary kernel code execution. - CVE-2025-0286: Unvalidated user-supplied data lengths allow attackers to write arbitrary data to kernel memory, bypassing normal validation mechanisms.
- CVE-2025-0285: Insufficient input validation enables arbitrary kernel memory mapping, opening up a pathway for privilege escalation.
- CVE-2025-0289: Unvalidated
MappedSystemVapointers passed to theHalReturnToFirmwarefunction allow attackers to gain insecure kernel resource access. This vulnerability is particularly notable for its exploitation in active ransomware campaigns.
Cybercriminals have been leveraging these flaws using a technique known as Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD). This method involves deploying the vulnerable BioNTdrv.sys driver to escalate privileges on compromised systems, bypassing traditional security defenses. This technique has been widely used in ransomware attacks, where it allows attackers to disable security processes, terminate defenses, and execute malicious payloads.
Exploitation Impact and Threat Landscape
The vulnerabilities in Paragon Software’s BioNTdrv.sys driver have significant implications for organizations and individuals using affected versions of the Hard Disk Manager. Local access to a vulnerable system is enough for attackers to trigger a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, causing system crashes such as the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Additionally, these flaws enable attackers to escalate privileges, facilitating lateral movement within networks or granting SYSTEM-level access for further exploitation.
Microsoft has observed the exploitation of CVE-2025-0289 in active ransomware attacks, where attackers use the vulnerable driver to gain control over compromised systems. The fact that this flaw provides kernel-level access means it can be used to manipulate hardware resources directly, which makes it a highly valuable target for sophisticated adversaries.
Mitigation Measures and Patching
To address these vulnerabilities, Paragon Software has released an update to BioNTdrv.sys (version 2.0.0), which includes restrictions on IOCTL commands and enforces stricter security policies through SDDL permissions. These changes limit driver access to administrators, which helps reduce the potential for exploitation.
Microsoft has also taken steps to prevent further exploitation by adding vulnerable driver versions to the Windows Vulnerable Driver Blocklist, which is enabled by default on Windows 11. Organizations are advised to take the following actions:
1. Update Paragon Software: Install the latest security patches for the Hard Disk Manager (version 17.45.0+).
2. Verify Blocklist Activation: Ensure that the Vulnerable Driver Blocklist is active on Windows systems via Device Security → Core Isolation.
3. Monitor for Privilege Escalation Attempts: Particularly in environments using older versions of Paragon tools, keep a close eye on any suspicious behavior.
Despite these mitigation efforts, organizations using legacy versions of Windows (such as Windows 7/8.1) may remain vulnerable due to driver signature compatibility issues. This makes it critical for enterprises to prioritize patch deployment and enforce continuous endpoint monitoring to defend against ransomware operators employing BYOVD techniques.
What Undercode Say:
The exploitation of kernel-level drivers like BioNTdrv.sys underscores a crucial vulnerability in modern cybersecurity defense strategies. While many organizations focus heavily on application-level security, kernel-level drivers often go unnoticed until a breach occurs. The vulnerability in Paragon’s BioNTdrv.sys highlights the ease with which attackers can leverage third-party software components to escalate privileges and evade traditional detection systems.
The use of BYOVD in ransomware attacks is a troubling trend that reflects the sophistication of modern cybercriminals. Ransomware groups are constantly evolving, and their tactics now involve more subtle methods of gaining access to sensitive systems. This attack vector allows them to bypass signature-based detection and gain SYSTEM-level privileges without being detected, which makes it incredibly difficult for even well-defended networks to repel the threat.
Organizations need to adopt a holistic cybersecurity approach that incorporates not just patching and software updates, but also proactive monitoring and behavioral analysis. Given that these types of attacks exploit vulnerabilities in third-party drivers, cybersecurity teams should place a stronger emphasis on vulnerability management and the need for extensive endpoint monitoring. Simply relying on antivirus or intrusion detection systems is no longer enough in the face of these increasingly advanced threat actors.
Additionally, the patching efforts made by both Paragon Software and Microsoft are positive steps, but they do not fully address the issue for all systems. The compatibility issues with older versions of Windows point to the ongoing challenge of securing legacy systems. It’s important for organizations to prioritize the update of outdated systems and implement stricter access controls to mitigate the risks posed by unpatched drivers.
Lastly, this situation highlights a broader issue in the IT ecosystem—the reliance on third-party components. In an era of increasingly complex software stacks, the risk posed by third-party drivers and other components is often underestimated. Vulnerability management needs to become a priority not only for internal software but also for any third-party tools integrated into the system.
Fact Checker Results
The vulnerabilities detailed in this report are verified by official CVE listings (CVE-2025-0285 to CVE-2025-0289) and confirmed by Microsoft’s security team. Active exploitation of these flaws in ransomware attacks has been observed. Security patches and mitigations have been released by Paragon Software and Microsoft to address the risks.
References:
Reported By: cyberpress.org
Extra Source Hub:
https://www.linkedin.com
Wikipedia
Undercode AI
Image Source:
Unsplash
Undercode AI DI v2
