CVE-2025-53766
Published: 12 August 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-53766 is a critical-severity Heap-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-122) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 9.9% 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 SI-16 (Memory Protection) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Deeper analysis
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-53766 and assigned CWE-122, affects Windows GDI+. The flaw carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 and was published on 12 August 2025.
An unauthenticated attacker can exploit the issue remotely over a network without user interaction, achieving arbitrary code execution with full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The Microsoft Security Response Center advisory linked in the reference provides official guidance on patches and mitigation for the affected component.
EPSS remains flat at a peak and current value of 0.0515, indicating no material increase in observed exploitation interest after disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-24289
Vulnerability details
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows GDI+ allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Remote unauthenticated heap buffer overflow enabling arbitrary code execution directly maps to exploitation of public-facing or network-reachable applications.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly remediates the heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Windows GDI+ by requiring timely identification, reporting, and correction via vendor patches.
Provides system-level memory protections such as ASLR and DEP to prevent successful exploitation of the heap buffer overflow for arbitrary code execution.
Validates information inputs to GDI+ components to block malformed data that triggers the remote heap-based buffer overflow.