Author: Ameeba

CVE-2025-29977: Use After Free Vulnerability in Microsoft Office Excel
Overview

A critical vulnerability has been identified in Microsoft Office Excel, a widely used spreadsheet application, which could potentially allow an unauthorized attacker to execute arbitrary code on a victim’s system. This flaw, assigned the identification number CVE-2025-29977, is a ‘use-after-free’ vulnerability, a type of security bug that can lead to malicious code execution or even total system compromise.
The vulnerability is of significant concern due to the widespread usage of Microsoft Office Excel across various fields including business, academia, and personal computing. The potential for data leakage or system compromise makes this vulnerability a pressing issue that requires immediate attention.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-29977
Severity: High (7.8/10)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise and data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Microsoft Office Excel | All versions prior to the patch

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability arises from a use-after-free condition in Microsoft Office Excel. In a use-after-free scenario, a section of the memory is used after it has been freed, leading to unexpected behavior such as crashing the program or, in this case, allowing for arbitrary code execution.
The flaw can be exploited when an attacker tricks a user into opening a specially crafted Excel file containing malicious code. Once the file is opened, the code is executed locally, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a
conceptual
example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:
```
# Command to open a malicious Excel file
open "/path/to/malicious/file.xls"
```
In this conceptual example, an attacker would craft a malicious Excel file and trick the user into opening it. Once opened, the malicious code contained within the file would execute, exploiting the use-after-free vulnerability.

Mitigation Guidance

To mitigate the effects of this vulnerability, users are strongly advised to apply the patch provided by Microsoft as soon as it is available. As a temporary measure, the use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regularly updating and patching software can also go a long way in preventing such vulnerabilities from being exploited.
July 2, 2025
CVE-2025-29976: Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability in Microsoft Office SharePoint
Overview

In the realm of cybersecurity, managing system privileges is a critical aspect of maintaining data security. Recently, a new vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-29976 has come to light, having a substantial impact on Microsoft Office SharePoint. This vulnerability allows an authorized user to elevate their privileges within the system, leading to potential data leakage or even full system compromise. Given the widespread usage of SharePoint across various organizations for managing and sharing documents, this vulnerability has serious implications.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-29976
Severity: High (CVSS:7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Microsoft Office SharePoint | All versions prior to the patched release

How the Exploit Works

This exploit takes advantage of the improper privilege management within Microsoft Office SharePoint. In essence, an authorized user with low-level privileges can exploit this vulnerability to gain higher-level access rights, which should ideally be restricted. This could be achieved through specific sequences of system requests or commands that manipulate the privilege escalation flaw. This unauthorized elevation of privilege could then be used to perform actions such as accessing sensitive data, modifying system settings, or even taking control of the system.

Conceptual Example Code

The following is a conceptual representation of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This is not an actual exploit code but a simplified illustration.
```
POST /elevatePrivilege HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerableSharePoint.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{
"user": "lowPrivilegeUser",
"action": "increasePrivilege",
"targetLevel": "admin"
}
```
In this example, the low privilege user ‘lowPrivilegeUser’ sends a request to elevate their privilege level to ‘admin’. If the system is vulnerable (i.e., it has not patched against CVE-2025-29976), it would grant this request, leading to privilege escalation.

Mitigation Guidance

The most effective way to mitigate this vulnerability is to apply the vendor-supplied patch. Microsoft has already addressed this vulnerability in its latest SharePoint updates. Organizations are strongly recommended to update their SharePoint deployments to the patched version as soon as possible.
In cases where immediate patching is not feasible, temporary mitigation can be achieved through the use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS). These tools can help monitor and block suspicious activities that might indicate an attempt to exploit this vulnerability. However, these are temporary measures and should not replace the necessary system update.
July 2, 2025
CVE-2025-29975: Unauthorized Privilege Escalation in Microsoft PC Manager
Overview

This blog post seeks to provide a detailed analysis of the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) entry, CVE-2025-29975. This vulnerability affects the Microsoft PC Manager software and exposes systems to risks of unauthorized privilege escalation by an attacker. The impact of this vulnerability is crucial as it could lead to system compromise or data leakage, thereby endangering the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the systems.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-29975
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Unauthorised Privilege Escalation leading to potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Microsoft PC Manager | All versions before the vendor patch

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability stems from a flaw in the Microsoft PC Manager’s file access operation, specifically, the improper resolution of links before file access, also known as ‘link following’. This flaw allows an attacker, who already has low-level privileges, to manipulate the link resolution process to access files or execute commands. This could result in an elevation of the attacker’s privileges, giving them unauthorized access to system resources or data.

Conceptual Example Code

To demonstrate how this vulnerability might be exploited, let us consider a hypothetical scenario where an attacker has gained low-level access to a system. They could use the following shell command to manipulate the link following process:
```
# Attacker creates a symbolic link to a sensitive file
ln -s /etc/sensitive_file /tmp/vulnerable_link
# Attacker manipulates Microsoft PC Manager's link resolution process to access the sensitive file
./MicrosoftPCManager --access-file=/tmp/vulnerable_link
```
In this example, the attacker creates a symbolic link pointing to a sensitive file. The attacker then manipulates the Microsoft PC Manager’s link resolution process to follow this symbolic link and access the content of the sensitive file.
The vulnerability can be mitigated by applying the vendor-provided patch. In the absence of a patch, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation by identifying and blocking malicious activities. However, these are not long-term solutions and systems should be patched as soon as possible to ensure security.
July 2, 2025
CVE-2025-29970: Microsoft Brokering File System Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Overview

The cybersecurity community is recent witness to a critical vulnerability in the Microsoft Brokering File System, known as CVE-2025-29970. This vulnerability, if exploited, allows an authorized attacker to escalate their privileges locally, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage. Given the widespread usage of Microsoft systems across corporate, institutional, and individual platforms, this vulnerability has the potential to affect a large number of users, making its mitigation and resolution an imperative task.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-29970
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Microsoft Brokering File System | All versions prior to the patch

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability lies in the “use after free” flaw in the Microsoft Brokering File System. In essence, a “use after free” vulnerability occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after it has been freed. This can lead to program crashes and potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code.
In the case of CVE-2025-29970, an attacker with local access can exploit this flaw to escalate their privileges. The exploit manipulates memory management, tricking the system into executing unauthorized commands with elevated privileges.

Conceptual Example Code

The following conceptual example demonstrates how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability:
```
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main() {
char *ptr = malloc(10); // allocate memory
free(ptr); // free the memory
// "use after free" vulnerability
sprintf(ptr, "command with elevated privileges");
system(ptr); // execute the command
}
```
In this example, memory is allocated to the `ptr` pointer, then freed, and then used again to execute a command with elevated privileges.

Mitigation Guidance

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is advised that users apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, users can employ a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as temporary mitigation. Regular monitoring for any suspicious activity and maintaining up-to-date security measures are also recommended to protect against such vulnerabilities.
July 2, 2025
CVE-2025-24063: Heap-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Windows Kernel
Overview

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system has recently identified a critical vulnerability, CVE-2025-24063, residing in the Windows Kernel. This vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow that could potentially compromise system security and lead to data leakage. This issue affects a broad range of entities, from individual users to large-scale organizations, as it pertains to Windows, one of the world’s most widely used operating systems.
The gravity of this vulnerability is underscored by its high CVSS Severity Score of 7.8, indicating its serious potential to disrupt system operations and compromise data security. Cybersecurity practitioners, IT administrators, and all Windows users should take immediate action to mitigate this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-24063
Severity: High (CVSS: 7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise and data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Microsoft Windows | All current versions

How the Exploit Works

The heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the Windows Kernel, the fundamental part of the Windows operating system. An authorized attacker can exploit this vulnerability by overloading the buffer with more data than it’s designed to handle. This overflow can lead to unpredictable system behavior, including data corruption, system crashes, and most concerning, the potential for privilege escalation.
If an attacker manages to execute code with higher privileges, they can gain full control over the affected system, leading to potential data theft, system compromise, or further network infiltration.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited. This pseudocode simulates an attempt to overflow the heap buffer:
```
#include <windows.h>
void exploit() {
char *heap_buffer = new char[100]; // create a heap buffer of 100 bytes
memset(heap_buffer, 'A', 200);    // overflow the buffer with 200 bytes
}
int main() {
exploit(); // call the exploit function
}
```
This code would cause a buffer overflow by attempting to write 200 bytes of data into a buffer that’s only designed to hold 100 bytes. If this code were executed with low-level privileges but within a process with high-level privileges, an attacker could potentially gain unauthorized access to elevated privileges.
July 2, 2025
CVE-2025-22460: Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in Ivanti Cloud Services Application
Overview

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system recently identified a notable vulnerability in the Ivanti Cloud Services Application, designated as CVE-2025-22460. This vulnerability is significant because it affects all versions of the application prior to 5.0.5 and allows a local authenticated attacker to escalate their privileges through the use of default credentials. Considering the widespread use of Ivanti Cloud Services in many organizations, this vulnerability is a major concern as it could lead to potential system compromise and data leakage.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-22460
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Severity Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low (Authenticated)
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Ivanti Cloud Services Application | Before 5.0.5

How the Exploit Works

The flaw resides in the utilization of default credentials within the Ivanti Cloud Services Application. An attacker who is already authenticated on the local system can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging these default credentials to escalate their privileges. This could potentially allow the attacker to gain high-level access to the system, leading to system compromise and the potential for data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Assuming the attacker is already authenticated on the system, they could possibly exploit the vulnerability with a command similar to the following:
```
$ ivanti-cli --username default --password default --escalate-privileges
```
This command hypothetically logs the attacker in using the default credentials and escalates their privileges within the Ivanti Cloud Services Application. This is a conceptual example and the exact command may vary depending on the system configuration and the specific version of the Ivanti application.

Suggested Mitigation

The primary mitigation for this vulnerability is to apply the vendor-supplied patch, which is available for Ivanti Cloud Services Application version 5.0.5 and later. If immediate patching is not possible, temporary mitigation can be achieved through the use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). These systems can be configured to recognize and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Furthermore, changing the default credentials as soon as possible is also a highly recommended security practice.
July 2, 2025
CVE-2025-41255: Unrestricted TLS Certificate Handling in Cyberduck and Mountain Duck
Overview

CVE-2025-41255 is a severe vulnerability that affects the popular open-source clients, Cyberduck and Mountain Duck. This vulnerability arises due to the erroneous handling of TLS certificate pinning for untrusted certificates, such as self-signed ones. The systems unnecessarily install these certificates to the Windows Certificate Store of the current user, without any restrictions, thereby opening the door to potential system compromise or data leakage. It is critical to address this issue, given the widespread use of these two applications in managing cloud storage and FTP servers.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-41255
Severity: High (8.0 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Cyberduck | Up to 9.1.6
Mountain Duck | Up to 4.17.5

How the Exploit Works

The exploit takes advantage of the improper handling of TLS certificate pinning in Cyberduck and Mountain Duck. When these applications encounter an untrusted certificate, they should reject it to maintain secure connections. However, due to this vulnerability, these applications instead install the untrusted certificate into the Windows Certificate Store of the current user. This behavior can be exploited by an attacker, who can present a self-signed certificate to these applications. Once installed, the attacker can potentially compromise the system or leak data.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is a conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability:
```
POST /vulnerable/endpoint HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
certificate=-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----[malicious_certificate]-----END CERTIFICATE-----
```
In this example, the attacker sends a self-signed certificate to the vulnerable endpoint. The applications, instead of rejecting the certificate, install it into the Windows Certificate Store, giving the attacker the opportunity to compromise the system or leak data.
July 2, 2025
CVE-2025-52890: Critical ACL Bypass Vulnerability in Incus System Container and Virtual Machine Manager
Overview

The cyber world is under a significant threat from a recently disclosed vulnerability CVE-2025-52890. This vulnerability resides in the Incus system container and virtual machine manager, specifically affecting versions 6.12 and 6.13. The flaw lies in the generation of nftables rules that inadvertently bypass integral security options, leading to potential ARP spoofing and VM/container spoofing on the same bridge. The reason this vulnerability is of critical concern is because of its potential to compromise entire systems or lead to severe data leakage.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-52890
Severity: Critical (CVSS: 8.1)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise or significant data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Incus system container manager | 6.12, 6.13
Incus virtual machine manager | 6.12, 6.13

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability arises from a flaw in Incus’s generation of nftables rules when using an ACL on a device connected to a bridge. These rules partially bypass security options like `security.mac_filtering`, `security.ipv4_filtering`, and `security.ipv6_filtering`. This bypass can lead to Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) spoofing on the bridge. The attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to fully spoof another VM/container on the same bridge, leading to unauthorized access or data theft.

Conceptual Example Code

Suppose an attacker has gained access to the network and can send arbitrary packets. Given the vulnerable Incus versions 6.12 or 6.13, they could send a specifically crafted ARP packet like this:
```
arp -s [target IP] [attacker MAC] -i [bridge interface]
```
This command sends an ARP reply to the target, falsely associating the attacker’s MAC address with the target IP. Once this spoofing is accepted by the target, all traffic meant for the target IP could end up at the attacker’s machine, leading to potential system compromise or data leakage.

Mitigation

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is advised to apply the vendor patch mentioned in commit 254dfd2483ab8de39b47c2258b7f1cf0759231c8. As an alternative or temporary mitigation, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be used.
July 2, 2025
CVE-2025-48954: Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability in Discourse Social Login
Overview

This blog post discusses a significant cybersecurity vulnerability, classified under CVE-2025-48954, that affects the open-source discussion platform, Discourse. The vulnerability results from an improper content security policy (CSP) handling, leading to a potential cross-site scripting (XSS) attack when using social logins. This issue plagues all versions of Discourse prior to 3.5.0.beta6.
The severity of this vulnerability lies in its potential to compromise systems or lead to data leaks, impacting not just individual users but also businesses that leverage Discourse for community engagement. A successful exploit could lead to unauthorized control over data and systems, creating a serious security threat.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-48954
Severity: High (CVSS: 8.1)
Attack Vector: Remote
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Discourse | Prior to 3.5.0.beta6

How the Exploit Works

This vulnerability arises from the Discourse platform’s failure to enforce a content security policy when using social logins. An attacker can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious scripts into the webpage. When a user interacts with the infected application, the malicious script is executed, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data or control over the system.

Conceptual Example Code

Here’s a conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability using an HTTP request:
```
POST /social_login HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{
"callback_url": "javascript:malicious_code_here"
}
```
In this pseudo-code, the “callback_url” contains malicious JavaScript code that can execute when the user interacts with the social login feature.

Mitigation Guidance

The recommended solution to protect against this vulnerability is to upgrade to Discourse version 3.5.0.beta6 or later, which contains a patch for the issue. If an upgrade is not immediately possible, users should ensure that the content security policy is enabled as a temporary workaround. Using Web Application Firewalls (WAF) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) can also provide temporary protection against potential exploits. However, these measures should be seen as temporary fixes, and users are advised to apply the vendor patch for complete resolution of the vulnerability.
July 2, 2025
CVE-2025-6436: Critical Memory Safety Bugs in Firefox and Thunderbird Potentially Allowing Arbitrary Code Execution
Overview

The cybersecurity community has been alerted to a critical vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-6436, primarily affecting the widely-used web browser, Firefox, and the open-source email client, Thunderbird. This vulnerability pertains specifically to versions 139 or earlier of these applications. The severity of this bug lies in its potential to compromise memory safety, leading to the possible execution of arbitrary code. These types of vulnerabilities are particularly worrisome as they can lead to a complete system compromise or potential data leakage, making it a matter of great concern for individual users and organizations alike.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-6436
Severity: Critical, with a CVSS score of 8.1
Attack Vector: Remote
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential execution of arbitrary code leading to system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Firefox | Versions < 140 Thunderbird | Versions < 140 How the Exploit Works

This vulnerability arises from memory safety bugs present in Firefox and Thunderbird. Some of these bugs have demonstrated evidence of memory corruption, implying that a remote attacker could potentially manipulate memory in a way that allows the execution of arbitrary code. This code execution can then be used to compromise the system or lead to unauthorized data access. The attacker would likely need to trick the user into visiting a malicious webpage or opening a malicious email to exploit the vulnerability.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is a conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit a vulnerable web browser through the execution of malicious JavaScript:
```
<script>
var buffer = new ArrayBuffer(128);
var uint8View = new Uint8Array(buffer);
// Fill the buffer with data that triggers the vulnerability
for (var i = 0; i < uint8View.length; i++) {
uint8View[i] = /*malicious_data*/;
}
// Exploit the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code
exploitVulnerability(buffer);
</script>
```
In this conceptual example, the attacker creates an ArrayBuffer and fills it with data that can exploit the memory safety bug when processed by the vulnerable application. The function “exploitVulnerability(buffer)” represents the attacker’s arbitrary code, which may be designed to compromise the system or exfiltrate data.
To mitigate this vulnerability, it is strongly recommended to apply the vendor’s patch as soon as possible. If immediate patching is not possible, using Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation measures.
July 1, 2025