The recent discovery of a new vulnerability, dubbed as CVE-2025-24055, affects the USB Video Driver (usbvideo.sys) in Windows operating systems. This vulnerability concerns an out-of-bounds read that enables authorized attackers to disclose crucial system information through physical attacks. In this article, we will provide an in-depth analysis of the mentioned vulnerability, discuss the potential impact it might have, and explore the possible mitigation strategies.

Background

The Windows USB Video Driver, or usbvideo.sys, is a crucial component responsible for managing USB-connected webcams or video devices. The driver processes incoming video data from the USB device and communicates it with the host system by providing appropriate video formats.

Details

The issue with CVE-2025-24055 lies in an improper handling of the input buffer. This vulnerability allows an attacker to read information outside the intended buffer boundaries, resulting in an out-of-bounds read.

The code snippet below demonstrates a possible scenario where this vulnerability could be triggered

// vulnerable_function, input_ptr is a pointer to the data received from the USB device
void vulnerable_function(uint8_t *input_ptr, size_t input_size) {

  uint8_t buffer[256];
  
  // Some actions processing the input
  
  // Vulnerable memcpy call which might read outside the intended buffer boundaries
  memcpy(buffer, input_ptr, input_size);
}

In the above snippet, the memcpy call copies the input data received from the USB device to a local buffer. However, there is no boundary check for the input input_size before copying it. This oversight could result in reading data beyond the intended buffer when the input_size is larger than the defined buffer size (256 bytes in this example).

Exploit

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker with physical access to the machine must modify the incoming video data packets from the USB device to have a larger size than expected. By doing so, they could trigger the buffer boundary checks and read data beyond the intended boundaries, potentially unveiling sensitive system information.

Impact

This particular vulnerability may not immediately compromise the target system. It requires an attacker to have physical access to the machine, making it less likely to be exploited remotely. However, if the attacker has such access, they can potentially gain information that could be used in future attacks or undermining a system's overall security.

Below are some potential risks associated with this vulnerability

- Disclosure of sensitive system information, such as memory addresses, stack data, or other kernel-level data.

Possibility of escalating privileges and executing other malicious actions.

- Exposure of private data, such as encryption keys or passwords, that are stored in the system memory.

The following are some recommendations to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-24055

1. Apply available security patches to the affected Windows USB Video Driver provided by Microsoft (or respective vendor).

Employ secure USB device usage practices, such as the utilization of authorized devices only.

4. Restrict unnecessary privileges for regular users to reduce their ability to trigger the vulnerability.

Conclusion

The CVE-2025-24055 out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the Windows USB Video Driver demonstrates that even seemingly minor bugs could expose systems to potential risks. Although the exploitation of this particular vulnerability might not be trivial, it is essential to be aware of such security flaws and apply recommended mitigation strategies for better system security.

Original References

1. Microsoft Security Guidance
2. Out-of-bounds Read CWE - CWE-125
3. CVE - CVE-2025-24055

Timeline

Published on: 03/11/2025 17:16:27 UTC
Last modified on: 04/29/2025 22:06:39 UTC