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CVE-2025-21444 — Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation (2025)

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HIGH severity

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Overview

A use-after-free vulnerability in the Windows kernel allows a local attacker to escalate privileges to SYSTEM level, bypassing security boundaries.

Vulnerability details

CVE ID: CVE-2025-21444
Vulnerability: Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation (2025)
Vendor: cpe
Affected products: cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Severity: HIGH
Exploitation status: No confirmed in-the-wild exploitation
CVSS: 7.8
Published: 2025-01-14

Remediation guidance

Prioritize remediation of CVE-2025-21444 based on exposure and asset criticality.

Apply the vendor's official security update for cpe the affected product as soon as possible. Where a patch is unavailable, apply vendor mitigations or isolate/segment exposed systems.

Hunt for indicators of compromise tied to this vulnerability and confirm logging/EDR coverage on affected assets.

Authoritative references

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