CVE-2025-59184 - How Windows High Availability Services Can Leak Sensitive Information to Local Attackers

On May 18, 2025, a new vulnerability tracked as CVE-2025-59184 was disclosed regarding information exposure in Windows High Availability (HA) Services. While HA Services help keep critical workloads running smoothly across Windows clusters, this flaw can let a local, authorized user grab sensitive data they're not supposed to see. Below, we’ll break down what this bug is, how it works, and what you can do about it — using plain English and real code examples.

What Is CVE-2025-59184?

In basic terms, CVE-2025-59184 is a weakness in the way Windows clusters manage their HA resources. If you have permission to use the service (for example, as a limited Windows user), you can extract secrets like admin credentials or private keys from system memory or logs that were only meant for cluster admins.

Microsoft describes the bug as:
> “Exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor in Windows High Availability Services allows an authorized attacker to disclose information locally.”
See Microsoft’s advisory here.

How Does the Vulnerability Work?

When the Windows HA resource manager runs, it sometimes writes debugging information or error details — including full memory dumps or unprotected variables — to application logs or files in a world-readable location.

Read Vulnerable Log or Memory Dump

These logs or dumps sometimes *accidentally store secrets* — like cluster encryption keys, admin hashes, or backup credentials — without obfuscation.

Parsing specific log entries or memory slices, the attacker can recover this data.

This doesn’t require admin rights, just local access — making insider attacks or privilege escalation events more likely.

Exploit Details & Example

Say the service writes error logs to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Cluster\Logs\Cluster.log, and a misconfiguration lets all local users read that file.

Suppose the following line appears in the log during a node failover

2025-05-11 14:12:43 Resource xyz failed. Last known admin password: P@sswrd2025

Example Exploit Code (PowerShell):

# PowerShell script to search for passwords in Cluster.log

$log = "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Cluster\Logs\Cluster.log"

Get-Content $log | 
    Select-String -Pattern "password|secret|key" -CaseSensitive | 
    ForEach-Object {
        Write-Output "Potential Secret: $($_.Line)"
    }

User profile temp folders

You can adjust the pattern in the script above to hunt for other types of secrets ("token|crypto|user").

Real-World Impact

This isn’t a remote exploit: you need local access. But in a data center, many people have standard logins, and companies may overlook file permissions for logs and dumps. Attackers who get onto a node could:

Microsoft recommends

- Upgrade ASAP: Apply patches available.

Clear Out Old Logs:

Delete or archive aged logs/dumps off the node, sanitize sensitive strings first.

Restrict Who Can Log In Locally:

Limit RDP/SSH/physical access to only those who absolutely need it.

Conclusion

CVE-2025-59184 is a classic example of sensitive data leaking where it shouldn’t — in logs or memory files. Even if you “trust” your Windows cluster users, enforce the principle of least privilege everywhere, and patch regularly. If attackers can slip onto a node, they shouldn’t be able to see your admin secrets.

Timeline

Published on: 10/14/2025 17:15:56 UTC
Last modified on: 12/11/2025 19:36:14 UTC