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.