Microsoft’s November 2025 Patch Tuesday addressed **CVE-2025-62215**, an actively exploited **Windows Kernel race condition vulnerability** enabling **local privilege escalation to SYSTEM**. Though exploit code exists, it remains limited in distribution, reducing immediate widespread risk. However, the flaw affects **all supported Windows OS versions**, including Windows 10 under Extended Security Updates (ESU), heightening exposure for unpatched systems. Experts warn that such vulnerabilities are often chained with other exploits (e.g., code execution bugs) to **fully compromise systems**. The patch also included fixes for **CVE-2025-60724**, a **critical heap-based buffer overflow in GDI+**, allowing **remote code execution (RCE) without user interaction** via malicious documents or web uploads. While Microsoft deems exploitation 'less likely,' its low-complexity attack vector and potential for **unauthenticated exploitation** make it high-risk. Additionally, **CVE-2025-62199** (a **use-after-free in Microsoft Office**) leverages the **Preview Pane** as an attack vector, increasing real-world exploitation odds by bypassing user warnings. The **Agentic AI/Visual Studio Code flaw (CVE-2025-62222)** introduced a novel attack chain: **malicious GitHub issues** with hidden commands could trigger **RCE in developer environments** if interacted with in a specific mode. This underscores risks in **trusted toolchain compromises**, though exploitation requires precise user actions. While no **direct data breaches or ransomware** were reported, the **critical-severity flaws** pose **elevation-of-privilege and RCE risks**, potentially enabling **follow-on attacks** like lateral movement, data theft, or system takeovers if left unpatched. Organizations failing to apply patches risk **operational disruption, credential theft, or downstream supply-chain attacks** via compromised developer tools.
Source: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/11/12/patch-tuesday-microsoft-cve-2025-62215/
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"id": "DEV0832208111225",
"linkid": "devoteam-m-cloud",
"type": "Vulnerability",
"date": "11/2025",
"severity": "85",
"impact": "4",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': 'All users of supported Windows '
'OS editions, Windows 10 ESU, '
'Microsoft Office, Visual Studio '
'Code, Exchange Server 2016/2019',
'industry': 'Technology',
'location': 'Redmond, Washington, USA',
'name': 'Microsoft',
'size': 'Large (220,000+ employees)',
'type': 'Corporation'},
{'industry': 'Multiple',
'location': 'Global',
'name': 'Organizations using Windows 10 without ESU',
'type': 'Businesses/Enterprises'},
{'industry': 'Software Development',
'location': 'Global',
'name': 'Developers using Visual Studio Code CoPilot '
'Chat Extension',
'type': 'Individuals/Organizations'}],
'attack_vector': ['Local (for CVE-2025-62215)',
'Remote (for CVE-2025-60724, CVE-2025-62222)',
'User Interaction Required (for CVE-2025-62199, '
'CVE-2025-62222)',
'Malicious Document (Metafile, Office File, GitHub Issue)',
'Preview Pane (for CVE-2025-62199)',
'Network-Based (for CVE-2025-62222)'],
'customer_advisories': ['End-users should ensure their systems are updated '
'via Windows Update.',
'Developers should update Visual Studio Code and '
'avoid interacting with suspicious GitHub issues.',
'Outlook users may disable Preview Pane as a '
'temporary mitigation for CVE-2025-62199.'],
'date_publicly_disclosed': '2025-11-12',
'date_resolved': '2025-11-12',
'description': "Microsoft's November 2025 Patch Tuesday addressed over 60 "
'vulnerabilities, including an actively exploited Windows '
'Kernel flaw (CVE-2025-62215), a memory corruption issue '
'stemming from a race condition allowing local elevation of '
'privileges to SYSTEM. The update also included fixes for '
'critical vulnerabilities in Graphics Device Interface Plus '
'(GDI+), Microsoft Office, and Agentic AI/Visual Studio Code. '
'Exploitation of CVE-2025-62215 was observed in limited '
'attacks, with functional but not widely available exploit '
'code. Additional patches addressed vulnerabilities in '
'Exchange Server, Windows 10 ESU, and other legacy systems '
'nearing end-of-support.',
'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': ['Potential erosion of trust in '
"Microsoft's patch management for "
'legacy systems',
'Concerns over novel attack vectors '
'(e.g., GitHub-based exploitation)'],
'operational_impact': ['Risk of SYSTEM-level compromise on '
'affected Windows systems',
'Potential for wormable RCE in GDI+ (though '
'assessed as unlikely)',
'Developer environment compromise via VS '
'Code extension',
'Increased attack surface for legacy '
'systems (Windows 10, Exchange 2016/2019)'],
'systems_affected': ['Windows Kernel (Privilege Escalation)',
'Windows Applications (RCE via GDI+)',
'Microsoft Office (RCE via Malicious Files)',
'Visual Studio Code (RCE via GitHub Issues)',
'Exchange Server 2016/2019 (Legacy Support '
'Risk)']},
'investigation_status': 'Ongoing (Limited exploitation observed for '
'CVE-2025-62215; no confirmed exploits for other '
'CVEs)',
'lessons_learned': ['Race conditions in kernel-level components can be '
'reliably exploited when paired with other '
'vulnerabilities (e.g., code execution bugs).',
'Legacy systems (Windows 10, Exchange 2016/2019) remain '
'high-risk targets without extended support.',
'Developer tools (e.g., VS Code extensions) are emerging '
'attack vectors via trusted platforms like GitHub.',
'Preview Pane in Outlook can bypass user warnings, '
'increasing exploitation risk for Office vulnerabilities.',
'Proactive patching and ESU enrollment are critical for '
'mitigating risks in end-of-life software.'],
'post_incident_analysis': {'corrective_actions': ['Microsoft has released '
'patches for all reported '
'vulnerabilities.',
'Enhanced code reviews for '
'kernel-level race '
'conditions.',
'Improved input validation '
'for GDI+ and Office file '
'parsing.',
'Security hardening for VS '
'Code extensions, '
'particularly those '
'interacting with external '
'platforms (e.g., GitHub).',
'Extended support options '
'(ESU) for legacy systems '
'with clear migration '
'timelines.'],
'root_causes': ['Race condition in Windows Kernel '
'due to improper synchronization '
'(CVE-2025-62215).',
'Heap-based buffer overflow in '
'GDI+ (CVE-2025-60724).',
'Use-after-free in Microsoft '
'Office (CVE-2025-62199).',
'Insufficient input sanitization '
'in VS Code CoPilot Chat Extension '
'(CVE-2025-62222).',
'Legacy system support gaps '
'(Windows 10, Exchange '
'2016/2019).']},
'recommendations': [{'actions': ['Immediately apply November 2025 Patch '
'Tuesday updates, prioritizing '
'CVE-2025-62215 and CVE-2025-60724.',
'Enroll in Windows 10 ESU if still using '
'Windows 10 post-EoL.',
'Migrate from Exchange 2016/2019 to Exchange '
'SE before the 6-month ESU period ends.',
'Disable Preview Pane in Outlook to mitigate '
'CVE-2025-62199.',
'Educate developers on risks associated with '
'VS Code extensions and GitHub issues '
'(CVE-2025-62222).'],
'for': 'Enterprises'},
{'actions': ['Update Visual Studio Code and CoPilot Chat '
'Extension to the latest patched version.',
'Avoid enabling non-standard modes on GitHub '
'issues from untrusted sources.',
'Monitor for suspicious commands in issue '
'descriptions or pull requests.'],
'for': 'Developers'},
{'actions': ['Monitor for exploitation attempts targeting '
'CVE-2025-62215 (privilege escalation) and '
'CVE-2025-60724 (RCE).',
'Implement network segmentation for systems '
'running legacy Windows or Exchange '
'versions.',
'Review Microsoft’s mitigation guidance for '
'high-severity vulnerabilities.'],
'for': 'Security Teams'}],
'references': [{'date_accessed': '2025-11-12',
'source': 'Microsoft Security Update Guide (November 2025 '
'Patch Tuesday)',
'url': 'https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/'},
{'date_accessed': '2025-11-12',
'source': 'Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative (Analysis of '
'CVE-2025-62215)'},
{'date_accessed': '2025-11-12',
'source': 'Ivanti (Patch Management Guidance by Chris '
'Goettl)'},
{'date_accessed': '2025-11-12',
'source': 'Rapid7 (Vulnerability Assessment by Adam Barnett)'},
{'date_accessed': '2025-11-12',
'source': 'Immersive Labs (Technical Analysis of '
'CVE-2025-62222 by Ben McCarthy)'}],
'response': {'communication_strategy': ['Public advisory via Microsoft '
'Security Update Guide',
'Collaboration with security '
'researchers for technical details',
'Media outreach (e.g., quotes from '
'Trend Micro, Ivanti, Rapid7, '
'Immersive Labs)'],
'containment_measures': ['Release of Patch Tuesday updates '
'(November 2025)',
'Out-of-band update for Windows 10 ESU '
'enrollment issues',
'Guidance to subscribe to Windows 10 '
'ESU and apply mitigations',
'Advisory to migrate from Exchange '
'2016/2019 to Exchange SE'],
'enhanced_monitoring': ['Recommended for systems exposed to '
'CVE-2025-60724 (GDI+ RCE)'],
'incident_response_plan_activated': 'Yes (Microsoft Security '
'Response Center - MSRC)',
'remediation_measures': ['Patches for CVE-2025-62215, '
'CVE-2025-60724, CVE-2025-62199, '
'CVE-2025-62222',
'Disabling Preview Pane in Outlook '
'(mitigation for CVE-2025-62199)',
'Avoiding interaction with untrusted '
'GitHub issues (mitigation for '
'CVE-2025-62222)'],
'third_party_assistance': ['Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative '
'(Analysis)',
'Ivanti (Patch Management Guidance)',
'Rapid7 (Vulnerability Assessment)',
'Immersive Labs (Technical Analysis '
'for CVE-2025-62222)']},
'stakeholder_advisories': ['Microsoft advises all customers to apply patches '
'immediately, especially for actively exploited '
'vulnerabilities.',
'Organizations using Windows 10 post-EoL are urged '
'to enroll in ESU or upgrade to supported '
'versions.',
'Exchange Server administrators are recommended to '
'migrate to Exchange SE before the ESU period '
'ends.'],
'title': 'Microsoft November 2025 Patch Tuesday: Actively Exploited Windows '
'Kernel Flaw (CVE-2025-62215) and Other Critical Vulnerabilities',
'type': ['Vulnerability Disclosure',
'Privilege Escalation',
'Remote Code Execution (RCE)',
'Memory Corruption',
'Race Condition',
'Buffer Overflow',
'Use-After-Free',
'Command Injection'],
'vulnerability_exploited': [{'affected_components': ['Windows Kernel'],
'affected_versions': ['All supported Windows OS '
'editions, Windows 10 ESU'],
'cve_id': 'CVE-2025-62215',
'description': 'Memory corruption due to race '
'condition in Windows Kernel, '
'allowing local elevation of '
'privileges to SYSTEM.',
'exploit_status': 'Actively Exploited (Limited)',
'severity': 'High'},
{'affected_components': ['GDI+'],
'affected_versions': ['Windows applications '
'using GDI+'],
'cve_id': 'CVE-2025-60724',
'description': 'Heap-based buffer overflow in '
'Graphics Device Interface Plus '
'(GDI+), leading to remote code '
'execution without user '
'interaction.',
'exploit_status': 'Proof of Concept Likely (Not '
'Exploited in Wild)',
'severity': 'Critical'},
{'affected_components': ['Microsoft Office'],
'cve_id': 'CVE-2025-62199',
'description': 'Use-after-free flaw in Microsoft '
'Office, exploitable via '
'malicious files or Preview Pane '
'to achieve code execution.',
'exploit_status': 'Not Exploited (High '
'Probability of Exploitation)',
'severity': 'High'},
{'affected_components': ['Visual Studio Code '
'CoPilot Chat Extension'],
'cve_id': 'CVE-2025-62222',
'description': 'Command injection in Visual '
'Studio Code CoPilot Chat '
'Extension, allowing unauthorized '
'remote code execution via '
'malicious GitHub issues.',
'exploit_status': 'Not Exploited (Novel Attack '
'Chain)',
'severity': 'High'}]}