Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) 11 - Remote Code Execution (RCE)
Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) 11 - Remote Code Execution (RCE)
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) 11 remote code execution vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the way Microsoft virtualization technologies process VHDX files. VHDX is a file format used primarily by Hyper-V and other Microsoft virtualization platforms to store virtual hard disk images. The vulnerability allows an attacker to craft a malicious VHDX file that, when processed by a vulnerable system, triggers arbitrary code execution remotely. This could enable attackers to gain full control over the host system or virtual machines, leading to data theft, system manipulation, or further network compromise. The exploit code, written in Perl, has been published on Exploit-DB, which lowers the barrier for attackers to weaponize this vulnerability. Although no active exploitation has been reported, the critical severity rating reflects the potential impact and ease of exploitation. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting increases the urgency for organizations to implement interim mitigations. The vulnerability affects all systems utilizing Microsoft virtualization platforms that support VHDX version 11, which is widely used in enterprise environments for virtual machine storage. Given the remote nature of the exploit, attackers do not require prior authentication or user interaction, significantly increasing the threat surface. This vulnerability underscores the importance of securing virtualization infrastructure and carefully controlling the sources of VHDX files processed within an environment.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be severe. Enterprises relying on Microsoft Hyper-V or other virtualization solutions that utilize VHDX files may face risks of full system compromise, data breaches, and disruption of critical services. The ability for remote code execution without authentication means attackers could infiltrate networks remotely, potentially leading to lateral movement and widespread compromise. This is particularly concerning for sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, where virtualization is heavily used and data sensitivity is high. Additionally, cloud service providers in Europe that offer Microsoft-based virtualization services could see their infrastructure targeted, affecting multiple customers. The lack of patches at the time of disclosure means organizations must rely on network-level defenses and strict file handling policies to mitigate risk. The reputational and regulatory consequences of a successful attack exploiting this vulnerability could be significant, especially under GDPR and other European data protection regulations.
Mitigation Recommendations
Until official patches are released by Microsoft, European organizations should implement several specific mitigations: 1) Restrict the processing of VHDX files to trusted sources only, avoiding opening or mounting VHDX files from unverified or external origins. 2) Employ network segmentation to isolate virtualization hosts and limit exposure to untrusted networks. 3) Monitor network traffic and system logs for unusual activity related to VHDX file handling or Hyper-V operations. 4) Use application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting exploitation attempts involving VHDX files. 5) Disable or limit unnecessary virtualization features that process VHDX files if feasible. 6) Prepare for rapid deployment of patches once available by maintaining an up-to-date asset inventory of affected systems. 7) Conduct user awareness training to avoid inadvertent introduction of malicious VHDX files. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling the specific attack vector and preparing for patch management.
Affected Countries
Germany, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Poland
Indicators of Compromise
- exploit-code: # Titles: Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) 11 - Remote Code Execution (RCE) # Author: nu11secur1ty # Date: 07/23/2025 # Vendor: Microsoft # Software: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11?r=1 # Reference: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-49683 # Base Score: 7.8 HIGHVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H ## Overview This PowerShell script (`vdh.ps1`) demonstrates a **soft corruption vulnerability** in Windows Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) handling, related to **CVE-2025-49683**. The script performs the following: - Creates a new dynamic VHDX file (virtual disk) of 10MB size. - Mounts the VHDX as a new drive in the system. - Initializes, partitions, and formats the virtual disk with NTFS. - Dismounts the VHDX and applies **soft byte-level corruption** at an 8 KB offset inside the VHDX file. - Re-mounts the corrupted VHDX to observe potential filesystem or mounting errors. - Lists the contents of the corrupted volume to show the impact. - Creates an **immediate restart batch script (`your-salaries.bat`)** inside the mounted volume which forces a system restart when executed. - Offers cleanup options to dismount and delete the corrupted VHDX file. --- ## Purpose This PoC is designed for **security researchers and penetration testers** to: - Understand how minor VHDX file corruptions can lead to system instability or vulnerability exploitation. - Demonstrate how CVE-2025-49683 affects VHDX mounting and usage. - Help develop detection and mitigation strategies for such virtual disk corruption attacks. --- ## Usage Instructions 1. **Run the script in an elevated PowerShell session** (Run as Administrator - The already malicious authorized user): ```powershell .\vdh.ps1 2. The script will: - Create, mount, and format a new VHDX file. - Corrupt the file at the byte level. - Re-mount and attempt to read the volume. - Create a batch file your-salaries.bat inside the mounted drive. 3. To trigger an immediate restart, navigate to the mounted drive (e.g., D:\) and run: ``` your-salaries.bat ``` 4. At script end, press 0 to clean up (dismount and delete the corrupted VHDX), or press any other key to exit and keep the file for further analysis. ### Important Warnings & Considerations - Run only on test or isolated environments. This script creates corruption and forcibly restarts the system via the batch file. Do not run on production or important machines. - Immediate Restart Batch File The your-salaries.bat file triggers an immediate system restart without any warning or confirmation. Be cautious when executing it. - Corruption is simulated and subtle. The corruption at 8 KB offset is a soft corruption intended for demonstration. Real-world attacks could apply more complex modifications. - Impact may vary by OS version and environment. Results depend on Windows version and configuration. Some systems may detect and repair corruption automatically. - Elevated privileges required. Script requires administrative rights to create, mount, initialize, and corrupt VHDX files. ### Technical Details - Corruption offset: 8192 bytes (8 KB) into the VHDX file. - Corruption pattern: Byte sequence [0x00, 0xFF, 0x00, 0xFF, 0xDE, 0xAD, 0xBE, 0xEF]. - Disk initialization: MBR partition style with a single NTFS partition. - Batch restart command: shutdown /r /t 0 /f to force immediate restart. ### Sample Output ```vbnet [*] Checking for existing VHDX file to avoid conflicts... WARNING: [!] Could not dismount VHDX, maybe not mounted: The path "C:\Users\MicrosoftLoosers\Desktop\CVE-2025-49683\corrupted_test.vhdx" is not the path to a mounted virtual hard disk file. [*] Removed existing VHDX file. [*] Creating new VHDX (Virtual Hard Disk) file... Size: 10 MB Path: C:\Users\MicrosoftLoosers\Desktop\CVE-2025-49683\corrupted_test.vhdx [*] Mounting the new VHDX... [*] Disk initialized and formatted with NTFS. This disk emulates a real drive to test mounting and corruption handling. [*] Drive mounted as E: You can access this drive like a physical hard disk in Windows Explorer. [*] Dismounting the VHDX before applying corruption... [*] Simulating corruption by modifying bytes at offset 8 KB... This models how subtle corruption can affect VHDX file integrity, which may lead to file system errors or crashes when accessed. [+] Corruption successfully applied. Note: This is a soft corruption for testing and demonstration purposes only. [*] Re-mounting the corrupted VHDX to observe effects... [*] Drive letter(s) assigned after corruption: E [*] Listing contents of the mounted drive to detect file system anomalies... [*] Attempting to list contents of drive E:\ ... [*] Created immediate restart batch script: your-salaries.bat Running this batch will force an immediate restart. [*] Script complete. This demo showcases how VHDX file corruption at the byte level can impact system behavior and why patching CVE-2025-49683 is crucial. [*] Press '0' to clean up and remove the corrupted VHDX, or any other key to exit. [*] Cleaning up... [*] VHDX dismounted. [*] Deleted VHDX file. ``` ### License & Disclaimer This script is provided for educational and research purposes only. The author and distributor disclaim all liability for any damage caused by misuse. Use responsibly, and always obtain proper authorization before testing or exploiting vulnerabilities on any system. ### References [CVE-2025-49683]( https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-49683) (Windows VHDX file corruption vulnerability) Microsoft Windows Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) documentation Windows PowerShell documentation # Video: [href](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkEu_AZnzk4) # Source: [href]( https://github.com/nu11secur1ty/CVE-mitre/tree/main/2025/CVE-2025-49683) # Buy me a coffee if you are not ashamed: [href](https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZPQZT5XMC5RFY) # Source download [href]( https://nu11secur1ty.github.io/DownGit/#/home?url=https://github.com/nu11secur1ty/CVE-mitre/tree/main/2025/CVE-2025-49683 ) # Time spent: 05:35:00 -- System Administrator - Infrastructure Engineer Penetration Testing Engineer Exploit developer at https://packetstormsecurity.com/ https://cve.mitre.org/index.html https://cxsecurity.com/ and https://www.exploit-db.com/ 0day Exploit DataBase https://0day.today/ home page: https://www.nu11secur1ty.com/ hiPEnIMR0v7QCo/+SEH9gBclAAYWGnPoBIQ75sCj60E= nu11secur1ty <http://nu11secur1ty.com/> -- System Administrator - Infrastructure Engineer Penetration Testing Engineer Exploit developer at https://packetstorm.news/ https://cve.mitre.org/index.html https://cxsecurity.com/ and https://www.exploit-db.com/ 0day Exploit DataBase https://0day.today/ home page: https://www.nu11secur1ty.com/ hiPEnIMR0v7QCo/+SEH9gBclAAYWGnPoBIQ75sCj60E= nu11secur1ty <http://nu11secur1ty.com/>
Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) 11 - Remote Code Execution (RCE)
Description
Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) 11 - Remote Code Execution (RCE)
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
The Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) 11 remote code execution vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the way Microsoft virtualization technologies process VHDX files. VHDX is a file format used primarily by Hyper-V and other Microsoft virtualization platforms to store virtual hard disk images. The vulnerability allows an attacker to craft a malicious VHDX file that, when processed by a vulnerable system, triggers arbitrary code execution remotely. This could enable attackers to gain full control over the host system or virtual machines, leading to data theft, system manipulation, or further network compromise. The exploit code, written in Perl, has been published on Exploit-DB, which lowers the barrier for attackers to weaponize this vulnerability. Although no active exploitation has been reported, the critical severity rating reflects the potential impact and ease of exploitation. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting increases the urgency for organizations to implement interim mitigations. The vulnerability affects all systems utilizing Microsoft virtualization platforms that support VHDX version 11, which is widely used in enterprise environments for virtual machine storage. Given the remote nature of the exploit, attackers do not require prior authentication or user interaction, significantly increasing the threat surface. This vulnerability underscores the importance of securing virtualization infrastructure and carefully controlling the sources of VHDX files processed within an environment.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be severe. Enterprises relying on Microsoft Hyper-V or other virtualization solutions that utilize VHDX files may face risks of full system compromise, data breaches, and disruption of critical services. The ability for remote code execution without authentication means attackers could infiltrate networks remotely, potentially leading to lateral movement and widespread compromise. This is particularly concerning for sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, where virtualization is heavily used and data sensitivity is high. Additionally, cloud service providers in Europe that offer Microsoft-based virtualization services could see their infrastructure targeted, affecting multiple customers. The lack of patches at the time of disclosure means organizations must rely on network-level defenses and strict file handling policies to mitigate risk. The reputational and regulatory consequences of a successful attack exploiting this vulnerability could be significant, especially under GDPR and other European data protection regulations.
Mitigation Recommendations
Until official patches are released by Microsoft, European organizations should implement several specific mitigations: 1) Restrict the processing of VHDX files to trusted sources only, avoiding opening or mounting VHDX files from unverified or external origins. 2) Employ network segmentation to isolate virtualization hosts and limit exposure to untrusted networks. 3) Monitor network traffic and system logs for unusual activity related to VHDX file handling or Hyper-V operations. 4) Use application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting exploitation attempts involving VHDX files. 5) Disable or limit unnecessary virtualization features that process VHDX files if feasible. 6) Prepare for rapid deployment of patches once available by maintaining an up-to-date asset inventory of affected systems. 7) Conduct user awareness training to avoid inadvertent introduction of malicious VHDX files. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling the specific attack vector and preparing for patch management.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Edb Id
- 52394
- Has Exploit Code
- true
- Code Language
- perl
Indicators of Compromise
Exploit Source Code
Exploit code for Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) 11 - Remote Code Execution (RCE)
# Titles: Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) 11 - Remote Code Execution (RCE) # Author: nu11secur1ty # Date: 07/23/2025 # Vendor: Microsoft # Software: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11?r=1 # Reference: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-49683 # Base Score: 7.8 HIGHVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H ## Overview This PowerShell script (`vdh.ps1`) demonstrates a **soft corruption vulnerability** in Windows Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) handling, related to *... (6461 more characters)
Threat ID: 68900844ad5a09ad00dd9ded
Added to database: 8/4/2025, 1:09:24 AM
Last enriched: 10/27/2025, 1:40:10 AM
Last updated: 11/4/2025, 10:40:20 PM
Views: 180
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