CVE-2025-21391 Overview
The Windows Storage component contains an elevation of privilege vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-21391. This vulnerability affects several versions of Microsoft Windows, allowing attackers to gain elevated privileges through local exploitation. Given its high severity, an attacker with local access could potentially gain control of the affected systems.
Critical Impact
Exploiting this vulnerability could allow attackers to execute privileged operations on vulnerable systems, bypassing standard authorization mechanisms.
Affected Products
- microsoft windows_10_1507
- microsoft windows_10_1607
- microsoft windows_10_1809
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-02-11 - CVE-2025-21391 published to NVD
- 2025-10-27 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-21391
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from improper handling of objects within the Windows Storage service, which could be exploited by an attacker to elevate their privileges from a standard to an administrative user level.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2025-21391 is insufficient permission checks in the Windows Storage component, which fail to properly validate the access rights of local users.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, requiring an attacker to have authenticated access to the system. Exploitation involves executing specific malicious operations that exploit the lack of proper permission validations.
# Example exploitation code (sanitized)
New-Item -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" -Name "TestKey" -Value "TestValue"
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-21391
Indicators of Compromise
- Unauthorized modifications to system registry keys
- Unexpected user privilege escalations
- Modification of system settings without permission
Detection Strategies
Monitoring tools should be configured to trigger alerts on changes to registry keys related to user settings and privilege policies, particularly focusing on the Windows Storage component.
Monitoring Recommendations
Ensure that security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems are configured to detect and log access attempts and modifications to storage-related services.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-21391
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the security patches provided by Microsoft immediately.
- Restrict local administrative access to essential personnel only.
- Monitor systems for unusual activity continuously.
Patch Information
Visit the Microsoft Security Update Guide for CVE-2025-21391 to access the latest patches and recommendations.
Workarounds
As a temporary workaround, ensure that user permissions are rigidly controlled and unnecessary user accounts are disabled to limit the exposure to potential attacks.
# Configuration example
net localgroup administrators [username] /delete
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
