CVE-2025-27480: CWE-416: Use After Free in Microsoft Windows Server 2019
Use after free in Remote Desktop Gateway Service allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-27480 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) found in the Remote Desktop Gateway Service component of Microsoft Windows Server 2019, specifically version 10.0.17763.0. This vulnerability allows an unauthorized attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. The flaw arises from improper handling of memory in the Remote Desktop Gateway Service, where a reference to a freed memory object is used, leading to potential memory corruption. Exploiting this vulnerability could enable an attacker to execute code with system-level privileges, compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected server. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1, reflecting a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with network attack vector, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a significant risk, especially in environments exposing Remote Desktop Gateway services to untrusted networks. The lack of an official patch link indicates that remediation may still be pending or in progress, emphasizing the need for immediate mitigation measures.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a critical risk due to the widespread use of Windows Server 2019 in enterprise environments, including government, finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure sectors. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data breaches, ransomware deployment, or disruption of essential services. Given the Remote Desktop Gateway Service's role in enabling secure remote access, attackers could leverage this flaw to bypass security controls and gain persistent access to internal networks. This is particularly concerning for organizations with remote workforce setups or those relying heavily on remote access technologies. The potential for lateral movement and privilege escalation following initial compromise could result in extensive damage, including theft of sensitive personal data protected under GDPR, operational downtime, and reputational harm. Additionally, the high severity and network-exploitable nature of the vulnerability increase the likelihood of targeted attacks or automated exploitation attempts against European entities.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Immediate deployment of any available security updates or patches from Microsoft once released is critical. Monitor official Microsoft security advisories closely. 2. In the absence of patches, restrict network exposure of the Remote Desktop Gateway Service by limiting access through firewalls and VPNs to trusted IP addresses only. 3. Implement network segmentation to isolate Remote Desktop Gateway servers from critical internal systems. 4. Enable and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for remote access to reduce risk from compromised credentials. 5. Monitor network traffic and system logs for unusual activity related to Remote Desktop Gateway connections, including unexpected process executions or memory anomalies. 6. Employ intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with updated signatures to detect potential exploitation attempts. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on remote access infrastructure. 8. Educate IT staff and administrators about this vulnerability to ensure rapid response and mitigation.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden
CVE-2025-27480: CWE-416: Use After Free in Microsoft Windows Server 2019
Description
Use after free in Remote Desktop Gateway Service allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-27480 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) found in the Remote Desktop Gateway Service component of Microsoft Windows Server 2019, specifically version 10.0.17763.0. This vulnerability allows an unauthorized attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. The flaw arises from improper handling of memory in the Remote Desktop Gateway Service, where a reference to a freed memory object is used, leading to potential memory corruption. Exploiting this vulnerability could enable an attacker to execute code with system-level privileges, compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected server. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1, reflecting a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with network attack vector, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a significant risk, especially in environments exposing Remote Desktop Gateway services to untrusted networks. The lack of an official patch link indicates that remediation may still be pending or in progress, emphasizing the need for immediate mitigation measures.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a critical risk due to the widespread use of Windows Server 2019 in enterprise environments, including government, finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure sectors. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data breaches, ransomware deployment, or disruption of essential services. Given the Remote Desktop Gateway Service's role in enabling secure remote access, attackers could leverage this flaw to bypass security controls and gain persistent access to internal networks. This is particularly concerning for organizations with remote workforce setups or those relying heavily on remote access technologies. The potential for lateral movement and privilege escalation following initial compromise could result in extensive damage, including theft of sensitive personal data protected under GDPR, operational downtime, and reputational harm. Additionally, the high severity and network-exploitable nature of the vulnerability increase the likelihood of targeted attacks or automated exploitation attempts against European entities.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Immediate deployment of any available security updates or patches from Microsoft once released is critical. Monitor official Microsoft security advisories closely. 2. In the absence of patches, restrict network exposure of the Remote Desktop Gateway Service by limiting access through firewalls and VPNs to trusted IP addresses only. 3. Implement network segmentation to isolate Remote Desktop Gateway servers from critical internal systems. 4. Enable and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for remote access to reduce risk from compromised credentials. 5. Monitor network traffic and system logs for unusual activity related to Remote Desktop Gateway connections, including unexpected process executions or memory anomalies. 6. Employ intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with updated signatures to detect potential exploitation attempts. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on remote access infrastructure. 8. Educate IT staff and administrators about this vulnerability to ensure rapid response and mitigation.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- microsoft
- Date Reserved
- 2025-02-26T14:42:05.977Z
- Cisa Enriched
- true
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 682cd0f91484d88663aebbaa
Added to database: 5/20/2025, 6:59:05 PM
Last enriched: 7/11/2025, 4:18:20 AM
Last updated: 7/27/2025, 4:39:56 PM
Views: 9
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