PT-2025-31: Local Privilege Escalation (LPE) via Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) in Microsoft Windows

Vulnerability vector:

• Base vulnerability score (CVSSv3.1): CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

• Severity (CVSSv3.1): 7.8 (high)

Description:

The Local Privilege Escalation (LPE) via Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) vulnerability was discovered in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability allows an authorized attacker to gain SYSTEM privileges. The affected products:

• Windows 10 for x64-based/32-bit Systems (Versions to 10.0.10240.21073)
• Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems (Versions to 10.0.14393.8246)
• Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based/ARM64-based Systems (Versions to 10.0.22631.5624)
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based/ARM64-based Systems (Versions to 10.0.26100.4652)
• Windows Server 2025 (Versions to 10.0.26100.4652)
• Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation) (Versions to 10.0.25398.1732)
• Windows Server 2012 R2 & Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) (Versions to 6.3.9600.22676)
• Windows Server 2012 & Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) (Versions to 6.2.9200.25573)
• Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 & Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) (Versions to 6.1.7601.27820)
• Windows Server 2008 for x64-based/32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 & Windows Server 2008 for x64-based/32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (Versions to 6.0.6003.23418)
• Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) (Versions to 10.0.14393.8246)

Vulnerability status: Confirmed by vendor

Date of vulnerability remediation: 08.07.2025

Recommendations:

• Security advisory

Additional information: Press-release

Researcher: Sergey Tarasov (Positive Technologies)