CVE-2025-47955: Windows Remote Access Connection Manager Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Overview

The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving with new vulnerabilities being discovered and patched frequently. One such recent vulnerability, dubbed as CVE-2025-47955, has been identified in Windows Remote Access Connection Manager. This vulnerability, if exploited, allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage. Given the widespread use of Windows in both personal and business environments, it is of paramount importance to understand this vulnerability and take the necessary steps to mitigate its potential impact.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-47955
Severity: High, CVSS score 7.8
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Windows 10 | All versions prior to latest patch
Windows Server 2016 | All versions prior to latest patch

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability resides in the Windows Remote Access Connection Manager which handles creating and managing network connections. An attacker with low privileges and local access can exploit this vulnerability by improperly managing the privileges. This allows the attacker to elevate their privileges to administrator level, thereby gaining the ability to execute commands, install malicious software or access sensitive data that is typically restricted to high privilege users.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is a conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability. This is a simplified representation and actual exploits may vary:

# The attacker first logs into the system with low-level privileges
$ login lowPrivUser
# The attacker then starts the Windows Remote Access Connection Manager service
$ net start RasMan
# The attacker now exploits the vulnerability to elevate their privileges
$ exploit CVE-2025-47955
# If the exploit is successful, the attacker now has administrator privileges
$ whoami
admin

Please note that this is a conceptual representation of how the exploit might work and not an actual exploit code.
To mitigate this vulnerability, apply the latest vendor patch as soon as possible. In case the patch cannot be applied immediately, consider using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as a temporary mitigation strategy.