CVE-2025-53144
Published: 12 August 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-53144 is a high-severity Type Confusion (CWE-843) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 7.5% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 CM-7 (Least Functionality) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Directly mitigates the type confusion vulnerability by requiring timely identification, reporting, and correction through patching as provided by Microsoft.
Prevents exploitation by configuring systems to disable unnecessary functionality like Windows Message Queuing when not required, eliminating the attack surface.
Limits network exposure of the Message Queuing service by enforcing boundary protections such as firewalls to restrict remote access despite low-privilege requirements.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Type confusion in MSMQ directly enables remote code execution against a network-accessible Windows service (T1190/T1210).
NVD Description
Access of resource using incompatible type ('type confusion') in Windows Message Queuing allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-53144 is a type confusion vulnerability (CWE-843) affecting Windows Message Queuing, a component of Microsoft Windows operating systems. It enables an authorized attacker to access resources using incompatible types, leading to remote code execution over a network. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating high severity due to its network accessibility, low attack complexity, and significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
An attacker requires low-level privileges (PR:L) on the target system, such as those granted to a standard authenticated user, and network access to the affected Windows Message Queuing service. Exploitation does not require user interaction and can be performed remotely with low complexity, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the Message Queuing service, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Microsoft's Security Response Center (MSRC) provides details on mitigation and patching in its update guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-53144, which was published on 2025-08-12. Security practitioners should consult this advisory for available patches and workarounds to address the vulnerability.
Details
- CWE(s)