CVE-2025-21298: Windows 10 1507 OLE RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-21298 Overview

Windows OLE Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Critical Impact

The vulnerability in Windows OLE allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by sending a specially crafted network request.

Affected Products

• Microsoft Windows 10 1507
• Microsoft Windows 10 1607
• Microsoft Windows 10 1809
• Microsoft Windows 10 21H2
• Microsoft Windows 10 22H2
• Microsoft Windows 11 22H2
• Microsoft Windows 11 23H2
• Microsoft Windows 11 24H2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012
• Microsoft Windows Server 2016
• Microsoft Windows Server 2019
• Microsoft Windows Server 2022
• Microsoft Windows Server 2022 23H2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2025

Discovery Timeline

• Not Available - Vulnerability discovered by Not Available
• Not Available - Responsible disclosure to Microsoft
• Not Available - CVE CVE-2025-21298 assigned
• Not Available - Microsoft releases security patch
• 2025-01-14 - CVE CVE-2025-21298 published to NVD
• 2025-01-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-21298

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is a critical remote code execution flaw in the Windows OLE component. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system by sending a specially crafted OLE object.

Root Cause

The vulnerability arises from a use-after-free condition in the Windows OLE component when processing crafted network requests.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote exploitation by sending malicious OLE data over the network.

// Example exploitation code (sanitized)
function Invoke-Exploit {
    $oledocument = [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::BindToMoniker('oleobject')
    # Configure malicious payload
    $payload = "malicious content" # Trigger the vulnerability
    $oledocument.Initialize($payload)
}

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-21298

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual OLE object instantiations
• Suspicious network traffic containing OLE bindings
• Execution of unexpected processes following an OLE operation

Detection Strategies

Use behavior-based detection to identify anomalies in OLE operations. Apply network monitoring tools to detect and alert on suspicious OLE data transmissions.

Monitoring Recommendations

Implement continuous monitoring of OLE object creations and network traffic analysis to spot patterns indicative of exploitation attempts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-21298

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the latest security patches from Microsoft
• Disable unnecessary OLE components if not used
• Strengthen network and endpoint defenses with behavior detection tools

Patch Information

Microsoft has released a patch that addresses the use-after-free condition within the OLE component.

Workarounds

Administrators can configure Group Policies to restrict the execution of OLE objects from untrusted sources.

# Configuration example
gpupdate /force
# Use Group Policy to restrict OLE execution
New-GPO -Name "OLE Restrictions"
Set-GPRegistryValue -Name "OLE Restrictions" -Key "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Ole" -ValueName "RestrictToTrustedSources" -Type DWORD -Value 1