Overview
The CVE-2025-55224 is a critical vulnerability discovered in the Windows Win32K – GRFX system. This vulnerability arises due to a race condition where concurrent execution using shared resources lacks proper synchronization. In certain circumstances, this vulnerability can be exploited by an authorized attacker to execute codes locally, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-55224
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
Product | Affected Versions
Windows Win32K – GRFX | All versions prior to patch
How the Exploit Works
This vulnerability is a race condition in Windows Win32K – GRFX, where shared resources are accessed concurrently without proper synchronization. This flaw could allow an authenticated, local attacker to exploit this vulnerability by running a specially crafted program designed to introduce race conditions. This would potentially allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, leading to a complete system compromise or data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a conceptual representation of how malicious code may attempt to exploit this vulnerability:
# This is a conceptual code snippet and may not work as is
# Start a concurrent process
start /b cmd /c "vulnerable_program.exe"
# Introduce a delay to make the race condition more likely
timeout /t 1
# Run the malicious code that exploits the race condition
malicious_program.exe
Please note that this is a conceptual example only and not actual exploit code. This pseudo-code shows the attacker launching a vulnerable program, introducing a delay, and then running a malicious program designed to exploit the race condition.
Mitigation Guidance
The best way to mitigate this vulnerability is to apply the patch provided by the vendor as soon as it is available. If the patch is not available or cannot be applied immediately, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be used as a temporary mitigation measure to detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. However, these measures do not entirely eliminate the risk, and patching the vulnerability should be prioritized.
