Microsoft Releases Critical Security Fixes for 125 Flaws, Including One Under Active Attack
In a move to address a massive set of vulnerabilities, Microsoft has released security fixes for 125 flaws affecting its software products. The updates are a crucial step in protecting users from potential attacks, as one of the vulnerabilities has already been actively exploited in the wild.
The Scope of the Vulnerabilities
The 125 vulnerabilities range in severity from Low to Critical, with 11 rated Critical, 112 Important, and two Low. The flaws can be categorized into four types: privilege escalation, remote code execution, information disclosure, and denial-of-service (DoS) bugs. Forty-nine of these vulnerabilities are classified as privilege escalation, 34 as remote code execution, 16 as information disclosure, and 14 as denial-of-service bugs.
The Vulnerability Under Active Attack
One of the most concerning vulnerabilities is an elevation of privilege (EoP) flaw impacting the Windows Common Log File System (CLFS) Driver (CVE-2025-29824, CVSS score: 7.8). This vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild and allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. According to Satnam Narang, senior staff research engineer at Tenable, “From an attacker’s perspective, post-compromise activity requires obtaining requisite privileges to conduct follow-on activity on a compromised system, such as lateral movement.”
The Impact of the Vulnerability
Mike Walters, president and co-founder of Action1, explained that the vulnerability permits privilege escalation to the SYSTEM level, giving an attacker the ability to install malicious software, modify system settings, tamper with security features, access sensitive data, and maintain persistent access. The lack of a patch for Windows 10 32-bit and 64-bit systems leaves a critical gap in defense for a wide portion of the Windows ecosystem.
Other Notable Vulnerabilities
The updates also address a security feature bypass (SFB) flaw affecting Windows Kerberos (CVE-2025-29809), remote code execution flaws in Windows Remote Desktop Services (CVE-2025-27480, CVE-2025-27482), and Windows Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (CVE-2025-26663, CVE-2025-26670). Additionally, multiple Critical-severity remote code execution flaws in Microsoft Office and Excel (CVE-2025-29791, CVE-2025-27749, CVE-2025-27748, CVE-2025-27745, and CVE-2025-27752) could be exploited by a bad actor using a specially crafted Excel document, resulting in full system control.
Actionable Insights
To protect yourself from these vulnerabilities, it’s essential to:
- Apply the security updates as soon as possible
- Ensure that your Windows systems are up-to-date
- Be cautious when opening Excel documents from unknown sources
- Implement robust security measures to prevent privilege escalation
Conclusion
Microsoft’s release of security fixes for 125 flaws is a crucial step in protecting users from potential attacks. The vulnerability under active attack highlights the importance of prioritizing security and applying updates promptly. As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, it’s essential to stay informed and take proactive measures to safeguard your systems and data.
Summary
- Microsoft released security fixes for 125 flaws affecting its software products
- One vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild and allows privilege escalation
- The updates address a range of vulnerabilities, including privilege escalation, remote code execution, information disclosure, and denial-of-service bugs
- Users are advised to apply the security updates as soon as possible and implement robust security measures to prevent privilege escalation.