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 (RCE) vulnerability represents a critical security flaw within the handling or parsing of VHDX files by Microsoft systems. VHDX is a disk image file format used primarily by Microsoft Hyper-V and other virtualization technologies to represent virtual hard disks. This vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely by crafting a malicious VHDX file that, when processed by a vulnerable system, triggers the execution of attacker-controlled code. The exploit leverages flaws in the parsing logic or memory management routines related to VHDX files, potentially leading to buffer overflows, use-after-free, or similar memory corruption issues. The presence of exploit code written in Perl indicates that the attack can be automated and executed remotely, possibly without requiring local user interaction or authentication, depending on the attack vector. Since no specific affected versions are listed, it is likely that the vulnerability affects multiple versions of Microsoft Windows that support VHDX file handling, especially those running Hyper-V or other virtualization services. The lack of patch links suggests that this is either a newly disclosed vulnerability or one for which official patches are not yet available. Given the critical severity rating and the remote code execution capability, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to any environment where VHDX files are processed, including cloud infrastructures, enterprise virtualization platforms, and endpoint systems that mount or interact with virtual disks.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be substantial. Enterprises and service providers that rely on Microsoft Hyper-V for virtualization, cloud service providers hosting virtual machines, and organizations using VHDX files for backup or deployment could face severe consequences. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, allowing attackers to steal sensitive data, disrupt operations, or establish persistent footholds within networks. This is particularly critical for sectors with high reliance on virtualization technologies, such as financial services, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure. The ability to execute code remotely without authentication increases the attack surface and potential for widespread exploitation. Additionally, the absence of patches at the time of disclosure means organizations may be vulnerable for an extended period, increasing the risk of targeted attacks or lateral movement within networks. The exploit's automation potential via Perl scripts further lowers the barrier for attackers, including less sophisticated threat actors, to leverage this vulnerability.
Mitigation Recommendations
Given the absence of official patches, European organizations should implement immediate compensating controls. These include restricting access to systems that process or mount VHDX files, especially from untrusted networks or users. Network segmentation and strict firewall rules should limit exposure of Hyper-V hosts and management interfaces. Employing application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions can help detect anomalous behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. Organizations should audit and monitor logs related to virtual disk mounting and Hyper-V operations for suspicious activity. Where possible, disable or restrict the use of VHDX files from untrusted sources. Additionally, organizations should prepare for rapid patch deployment once Microsoft releases official updates. Regular backups and incident response plans tailored to virtualization environments will aid in recovery if exploitation occurs. Finally, educating IT staff about this specific threat and the risks of handling untrusted VHDX files will reduce inadvertent exposure.
Affected Countries
Germany, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, 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 (RCE) vulnerability represents a critical security flaw within the handling or parsing of VHDX files by Microsoft systems. VHDX is a disk image file format used primarily by Microsoft Hyper-V and other virtualization technologies to represent virtual hard disks. This vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely by crafting a malicious VHDX file that, when processed by a vulnerable system, triggers the execution of attacker-controlled code. The exploit leverages flaws in the parsing logic or memory management routines related to VHDX files, potentially leading to buffer overflows, use-after-free, or similar memory corruption issues. The presence of exploit code written in Perl indicates that the attack can be automated and executed remotely, possibly without requiring local user interaction or authentication, depending on the attack vector. Since no specific affected versions are listed, it is likely that the vulnerability affects multiple versions of Microsoft Windows that support VHDX file handling, especially those running Hyper-V or other virtualization services. The lack of patch links suggests that this is either a newly disclosed vulnerability or one for which official patches are not yet available. Given the critical severity rating and the remote code execution capability, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to any environment where VHDX files are processed, including cloud infrastructures, enterprise virtualization platforms, and endpoint systems that mount or interact with virtual disks.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be substantial. Enterprises and service providers that rely on Microsoft Hyper-V for virtualization, cloud service providers hosting virtual machines, and organizations using VHDX files for backup or deployment could face severe consequences. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, allowing attackers to steal sensitive data, disrupt operations, or establish persistent footholds within networks. This is particularly critical for sectors with high reliance on virtualization technologies, such as financial services, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure. The ability to execute code remotely without authentication increases the attack surface and potential for widespread exploitation. Additionally, the absence of patches at the time of disclosure means organizations may be vulnerable for an extended period, increasing the risk of targeted attacks or lateral movement within networks. The exploit's automation potential via Perl scripts further lowers the barrier for attackers, including less sophisticated threat actors, to leverage this vulnerability.
Mitigation Recommendations
Given the absence of official patches, European organizations should implement immediate compensating controls. These include restricting access to systems that process or mount VHDX files, especially from untrusted networks or users. Network segmentation and strict firewall rules should limit exposure of Hyper-V hosts and management interfaces. Employing application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions can help detect anomalous behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. Organizations should audit and monitor logs related to virtual disk mounting and Hyper-V operations for suspicious activity. Where possible, disable or restrict the use of VHDX files from untrusted sources. Additionally, organizations should prepare for rapid patch deployment once Microsoft releases official updates. Regular backups and incident response plans tailored to virtualization environments will aid in recovery if exploitation occurs. Finally, educating IT staff about this specific threat and the risks of handling untrusted VHDX files will reduce inadvertent exposure.
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: 8/25/2025, 1:21:28 AM
Last updated: 9/16/2025, 10:43:46 PM
Views: 86
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