Microsoft Windows Server 2025 is currently exposed to a Remote Code Execution (RCE) exploit via the Windows Update Service, and as of now, the company has not fully resolved the issue. Reports indicate that prior attempts by Microsoft to fix this vulnerability, made earlier this month, have not been effective, as active exploitation continues despite assurances that the problem was not publicly disclosed.
Microsoft’s issues with vulnerability management have echoes in a recent incident involving SharePoint, although this current exploit appears to be less widespread. The exploit is specifically limited to PowerShell, reducing its potential impact compared to a full arbitrary code execution attack.
As of October 21st, code demonstrating the exploit has been publicly available. Hackers have been utilizing this vulnerability to conduct network reconnaissance through PowerShell commands, retrieving information and exfiltrating it to a specified endpoint.
Trend Micro’s Dustin Childs expressed concerns over Microsoft’s handling of this situation, emphasizing that if the patch fails to eliminate the vulnerability, it misleads organizations into believing they are secure. This could lead to increased risks rather than reduced ones, heightening the need for accountability from Microsoft for both ineffective and problematic patches.
In light of the ongoing vulnerability, Microsoft advises users to disable the WSUS (Windows Server Update Service) Server Role on their servers and to block certain inbound traffic to prevent exploitation. However, some documentation from Microsoft suggests that a recent security update issued on October 23rd should have fixed the issue, which contradicts ongoing reports of active exploitation.
For affected users, disabling the Windows Server Update Service until a reliable patch is released might be a prudent course of action.
For additional information, you can check Microsoft’s official documentation here and details on the exploit’s impact discussed in coverage from The Register.
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