CVE-2025-24992: Unauthorized Disclosure of Information Locally through Buffer Over-Read in Windows NTFS

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In recent cybersecurity news, a new vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-24992 has been discovered, impacting Windows NTFS file systems. This critical issue allows unauthorized attackers to disclose sensitive information locally on the target system. In this long read post, we'll be discussing the details related to this vulnerability, including a code snippet, links to relevant references, and a brief overview of the exploit.

The Vulnerability: Buffer Over-Read in Windows NTFS (CVE-2025-24992)

A buffer over-read occurs when a program reads more data than it should from a buffer, potentially exposing sensitive information to an attacker. In the case of CVE-2025-24992, an attacker can exploit a buffer over-read vulnerability in the Windows NTFS file system to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information on the target system.

Microsoft has acknowledged the vulnerability and issued a security advisory on their website, mentioning that they are working on a fix. Below is the link to the original advisory:

- Microsoft Security Advisory: CVE-2025-24992 - Buffer Over-Read in Windows NTFS

Technical Details of the Exploit

By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker can perform a buffer over-read on the Windows NTFS file system to disclose sensitive information that would otherwise be inaccessible or restricted. With successful execution, the attacker could potentially gain access to sensitive files, credentials, or other critical information stored on the target system.

Here's a sample code snippet which demonstrates how the buffer over-read vulnerability could be exploited:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <windows.h>

int main()
{
    // Create a file with sample data.
    HANDLE hFile = CreateFile(FileName, GENERIC_WRITE, FILE_SHARE_READ | FILE_SHARE_WRITE | FILE_SHARE_DELETE, NULL, CREATE_ALWAYS, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, NULL);

    if (hFile == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
        printf("Failed to create the test file, error: %d.\n", GetLastError());
        return -1;
    }

    DWORD bytesWritten;
    WriteFile(hFile, FileContent, strlen(FileContent), &bytesWritten, NULL);
    CloseHandle(hFile);

    // Read the file using NTFS vulnerability.
    hFile = CreateFile(FileName, GENERIC_READ, FILE_SHARE_READ | FILE_SHARE_WRITE | FILE_SHARE_DELETE, NULL, OPEN_EXISTING, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL | FILE_FLAG_OVERLAPPED, NULL);

    if (hFile == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
        printf("Failed to open the test file, error: %d.\n", GetLastError());
        return -1;
    }

    DWORD bytesRead;
    char buffer[256];
    memset(buffer, , sizeof(buffer));
    BOOL readResult = ReadFile(hFile, buffer, sizeof(buffer) - 1, &bytesRead, NULL);

    if (readResult) {
        printf("Successfully read the file content: %s.\n", buffer);
    } else {
        printf("Failed to read the file, error: %d.\n", GetLastError());
    }

    CloseHandle(hFile);
    return ;
}

This code snippet attempts to create a file with some sample data, reads, and then displays the file content utilizing the buffer over-read vulnerability in Windows NTFS.

Mitigation Measures

Until a patch is available, users are advised to follow the best practices for maintaining system security, such as:

- Keep all software, especially operating systems, browsers and antivirus programs, updated with the latest security updates.
- Stay vigilant against suspicious emails or URLs, as these can be a source for potential exploitation.
- Limit user account privileges, as this could significantly reduce the likelihood of a successful attack.

Conclusion

The recent discovery of CVE-2025-24992 highlights the importance of staying up to date with the latest cybersecurity news and taking necessary precautions to protect valuable information stored on our systems. As we await a patch for this vulnerability, one should follow the recommended mitigation measures and remain attentive to any updates from Microsoft regarding the issue.

Timeline

Published on: 03/11/2025 17:16:35 UTC
Last modified on: 04/29/2025 22:06:48 UTC