Cyber Posture

CVE-2025-21201

High

Published: 11 February 2025

Published
11 February 2025
Modified
28 February 2025
KEV Added
Patch
CVSS Score 8.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0016 37.1th percentile
Risk Priority 18 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2025-21201 is a high-severity Double Free (CWE-415) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203); ranked at the 37.1th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-2 (Flaw Remediation) and RA-5 (Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning).

Threat & Defense at a Glance

What attackers do: exploitation maps to Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203). What defenders deploy: see the NIST 800-53 controls recommended below.
Threat & Defense Details

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI

prevent

Timely remediation of flaws directly prevents exploitation of the RCE vulnerability in Windows Telephony Server by applying Microsoft's available patches.

preventdetect

Vulnerability scanning identifies unpatched Windows Telephony Server components affected by CVE-2025-21201, enabling prioritization for remediation.

detect

System monitoring detects anomalous behavior or indicators of successful RCE exploitation in the Windows Telephony Server process.

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
Why these techniques?

RCE vulnerability with network vector and required user interaction (malicious link/file) directly maps to client-side exploitation for code execution.

Confidence: MEDIUM · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v18.1

NVD Description

Windows Telephony Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Deeper analysisAI

CVE-2025-21201 is a Remote Code Execution vulnerability in the Windows Telephony Server component of Microsoft Windows. Published on 2025-02-11, it carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) and is associated with CWE-415.

The vulnerability enables remote exploitation over the network with low attack complexity and no required privileges, though it demands user interaction such as clicking a malicious link or file. An attacker who successfully exploits it can achieve high-impact effects on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, including execution of arbitrary code in the context of the affected server process.

Microsoft's Security Response Center update guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-21201 provides details on mitigation, including available patches and recommended actions for affected systems.

Details

CWE(s)

Affected Products

microsoft
windows 10 1507
≤ 10.0.10240.20915 · ≤ 10.0.10240.20915
microsoft
windows 10 1607
≤ 10.0.14393.7785 · ≤ 10.0.14393.7785
microsoft
windows 10 1809
≤ 10.0.17763.6893 · ≤ 10.0.17763.6893
microsoft
windows 10 21h2
≤ 10.0.19044.5487
microsoft
windows 10 22h2
≤ 10.0.19045.5487
microsoft
windows 11 22h2
≤ 10.0.22621.4890
microsoft
windows 11 23h2
≤ 10.0.22631.4890
microsoft
windows 11 24h2
≤ 10.0.26100.3194
microsoft
windows server 2008
all versions, r2
microsoft
windows server 2012
all versions, r2
+5 more product configuration(s) — see NVD for full list

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-21240Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2025-21339Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2025-21233Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2025-21266Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2025-21371Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2025-21407Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2025-21409Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2025-21303Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2025-21338Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507
CVE-2025-59295Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 1507

References