CVE-2025-27468 Overview
CVE-2025-27468 is an elevation of privilege vulnerability in Windows Secure Kernel Mode. The flaw stems from improper privilege management combined with a race condition, allowing an authorized local attacker to elevate privileges on affected systems. The weakness is classified under [CWE-269] Improper Privilege Management and [CWE-362] Concurrent Execution Using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization. Microsoft published the advisory on May 13, 2025, and the vulnerability affects a broad range of Windows client and server releases, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2012 through Windows Server 2025.
Critical Impact
A successful exploit grants an attacker with low local privileges the ability to gain higher privileges, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host.
Affected Products
- Microsoft Windows 10 (1507, 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2)
- Microsoft Windows 11 (22H2, 23H2, 24H2)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2022 23H2, and 2025
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-05-13 - CVE-2025-27468 published to NVD and Microsoft releases security update
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-27468
Vulnerability Analysis
Windows Secure Kernel Mode (SKM) is part of Virtualization-Based Security (VBS). SKM provides a separated execution environment protected by the hypervisor, hosting Isolated User Mode (IUM) trustlets and enforcing security boundaries such as Credential Guard and HVCI. A defect in SKM's privilege enforcement combined with a race condition allows an authorized local attacker to escape the intended trust boundary. Successful exploitation results in the attacker running code with higher privileges than the account originally held.
Root Cause
The root cause combines two weaknesses. First, improper privilege management [CWE-269] permits an operation that should be restricted based on the caller's security context. Second, a concurrency defect [CWE-362] creates a window in which the state used to validate that operation is inconsistent. An attacker who wins the race can perform a privileged action while the security check is bypassed or stale. High attack complexity in the CVSS vector reflects the difficulty of reliably winning this race.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access with low privileges and no user interaction. The attacker executes code on the target host, typically after initial access through phishing, a foothold on a workstation, or a compromised service account. The attacker then triggers the vulnerable Secure Kernel Mode code path repeatedly to induce the race condition. Once the check is bypassed, the attacker gains SYSTEM or equivalent kernel-level authority, enabling credential theft, security tool tampering, and lateral movement. Microsoft has not reported in-the-wild exploitation and no public proof-of-concept has been released.
See the Microsoft Vulnerability Advisory for vendor technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-27468
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected processes running as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM that were spawned by non-privileged parent processes.
- Loading of unsigned or unusual drivers on systems with HVCI or Credential Guard enabled.
- Anomalous kernel-mode crashes or Secure Kernel Mode errors in the System event log immediately preceding privilege changes.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for local privilege escalation patterns using process-lineage analytics that flag child processes with elevated tokens from medium or low integrity parents.
- Correlate Windows Security event ID 4672 (special privileges assigned) with unusual originating user accounts and processes.
- Track token manipulation and access token duplication attempts mapped to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1134.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest Windows Security, System, and Sysmon logs into a centralized analytics platform to baseline SKM and VBS behavior.
- Alert on repeated failed kernel operations from the same non-administrative user within short time windows, which may indicate race-condition exploitation attempts.
- Verify that VBS, HVCI, and Credential Guard telemetry is reaching your SIEM and that alerts fire when these components are disabled.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-27468
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the May 2025 Microsoft security updates to all affected Windows client and server systems referenced in the advisory.
- Prioritize patching of domain controllers, jump hosts, and endpoints that store or process privileged credentials.
- Audit local accounts and service accounts for unnecessary logon rights on high-value hosts to reduce the pool of potential attackers.
Patch Information
Microsoft released fixes on May 13, 2025 as part of Patch Tuesday. Consult the Microsoft Vulnerability Advisory for KB article numbers matching each affected build. Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 fixes are delivered through the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.
Workarounds
- No official workaround is provided by Microsoft; apply the vendor patch as the primary remediation.
- Restrict local logon and interactive access on sensitive hosts using Group Policy User Rights Assignment to limit exposure until patches are deployed.
- Enforce application allowlisting with Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) to reduce the likelihood of arbitrary code execution needed to trigger the flaw.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
