Introduction
A critical vulnerability, CVE-2025-47972, has emerged in Microsoft's Input Method Editor (IME), exposing systems to privilege escalation attacks through a race condition. This flaw significantly impacts multi-user environments, allowing attackers to gain elevated privileges remotely.
Technical Information
CVE-2025-47972 is rooted in a race condition caused by improper synchronization in Windows IME. Race conditions occur when multiple threads access shared resources concurrently without adequate synchronization, leading to unpredictable and potentially exploitable behavior.
In this specific case, attackers exploit concurrent execution paths within IME, manipulating memory allocation and deallocation processes. By sending specially crafted input sequences over the network, attackers trigger simultaneous operations that overwrite critical memory regions, ultimately achieving SYSTEM-level privileges.
Attack Vector and Exploitation Method
The exploitation process involves:
- Crafting malicious input sequences targeting IME's memory management.
- Sending these sequences remotely to vulnerable systems.
- Triggering concurrent execution paths that improperly handle memory allocation.
- Overwriting critical memory areas to escalate privileges.
This vulnerability is particularly severe in environments where IME processes are frequently accessed by multiple users, as exploitation does not require physical access or direct interaction beyond network connectivity.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Microsoft Windows IME (specific version details not publicly disclosed by Microsoft)
Patch Information
In the July 2025 Patch Tuesday release, Microsoft addressed over 140 vulnerabilities, including CVE-2025-47972. While specific code changes for these patches are not publicly disclosed, updates typically involve modifying affected components to eliminate vulnerabilities, such as enhancing input validation, improving memory management, or adjusting access controls.
To apply these updates, users should utilize the Windows Update feature or download patches directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Prompt updating is essential to mitigate potential security risks associated with this vulnerability.
Vendor Security History
Microsoft has previously encountered similar synchronization and memory management vulnerabilities, notably in legacy components like IME and CLFS. The recurrence of these issues indicates persistent challenges in securing complex software systems, despite ongoing improvements in patching responsiveness and security practices.
References
Source: This report was created using AI
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