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CVE-2025-29831: CWE-416: Use After Free in Microsoft Windows Server 2019

High
VulnerabilityCVE-2025-29831cvecve-2025-29831cwe-416
Published: Tue May 13 2025 (05/13/2025, 16:58:57 UTC)
Source: CVE
Vendor/Project: Microsoft
Product: 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

AILast updated: 07/18/2025, 20:58:31 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2025-29831 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) found in the Remote Desktop Gateway Service component of Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (version 10.0.17763.0). This vulnerability allows an unauthorized attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely over a network. The use-after-free condition occurs when the service improperly manages memory, freeing an object while it is still in use, which can lead to memory corruption. An attacker can exploit this flaw by sending specially crafted requests to the Remote Desktop Gateway Service, triggering the use-after-free and enabling remote code execution (RCE). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with network attack vector (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), and requiring user interaction (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), meaning the vulnerability affects only the vulnerable component. The vulnerability was published on May 13, 2025, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild yet. No official patches or mitigation links are currently available, indicating that organizations must prioritize monitoring and interim defensive measures. The vulnerability is critical because it allows remote attackers to gain code execution without authentication, potentially leading to full system compromise, data breaches, or service disruption on affected Windows Server 2019 systems running Remote Desktop Gateway Service.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for enterprises and public sector entities relying on Windows Server 2019 for remote access and gateway services. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to internal networks, data exfiltration, ransomware deployment, or disruption of critical services. Given the widespread use of Windows Server 2019 in European data centers, government agencies, financial institutions, and healthcare providers, the impact could be severe, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information and critical infrastructure. The requirement for user interaction slightly reduces the likelihood of automated mass exploitation but does not eliminate targeted attacks, especially spear-phishing or social engineering campaigns that could trick users into initiating the exploit. The high attack complexity suggests that exploitation is non-trivial but feasible for skilled attackers. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the vulnerability's severity demands urgent attention to prevent potential future attacks.

Mitigation Recommendations

1. Immediate mitigation should include disabling or restricting access to the Remote Desktop Gateway Service where feasible, especially from untrusted networks, to reduce the attack surface. 2. Implement strict network segmentation and firewall rules to limit inbound connections to the Remote Desktop Gateway Service only to trusted IP addresses. 3. Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for remote access to reduce the risk of user interaction-based exploitation. 4. Monitor network traffic and system logs for unusual activity related to Remote Desktop Gateway Service, including anomalous connection attempts or crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Apply the principle of least privilege to accounts and services interacting with the Remote Desktop Gateway Service to minimize potential damage. 6. Prepare for patch deployment by tracking Microsoft security advisories closely and testing updates in controlled environments once patches become available. 7. Educate users about the risks of social engineering and the importance of cautious interaction with remote access prompts. 8. Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting memory corruption and exploitation behaviors related to use-after-free vulnerabilities.

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Technical Details

Data Version
5.1
Assigner Short Name
microsoft
Date Reserved
2025-03-11T22:56:43.944Z
Cisa Enriched
true
Cvss Version
3.1
State
PUBLISHED

Threat ID: 682cd0f91484d88663aeb965

Added to database: 5/20/2025, 6:59:05 PM

Last enriched: 7/18/2025, 8:58:31 PM

Last updated: 8/3/2025, 12:37:26 AM

Views: 11

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