Windows Active Directory Vulnerability Enables Unauthorized Privilege Escalation

Microsoft has urgently patched a high-risk security vulnerability (CVE-2025-29810) in Windows Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), which could allow attackers to escalate privileges and compromise entire network domains.

Rated 7.5 (Important) on the CVSS v3.1 scale, this flaw impacts organizations using Windows Server 2016 through 2025 editions.

CVE-2025-29810 Overview

Key Detail	Description
CVE ID	CVE-2025-29810
Published Date	April 8, 2025
Vendor	Microsoft
Severity	Important (CVSS 7.5)
Weakness	CWE-284: Improper Access Control
Impact	Full domain compromise via privilege escalation
Remediation	Apply April 2025 security update (KB5036789)

Vulnerability Analysis

The flaw stems from improper access control in Active Directory’s authentication protocols. Attackers with low-privilege access (e.g., standard user accounts) could exploit misconfigured security descriptors to grant themselves administrative rights.

Unlike many AD vulnerabilities, this exploit requires no user interaction and operates over network-accessible pathways.

Exploit Workflow

1. Attacker gains initial foothold via phishing or compromised user credentials.
2. Exploits misconfigured AD objects (e.g., user accounts, groups) to modify permissions.
3. Escalates to Domain Admin, enabling lateral movement, data theft, or ransomware deployment.

Microsoft confirms the vulnerability is not yet publicly exploited, but its existence in core authentication infrastructure raises alarms.

Unpatched systems face risks of credential harvesting, persistent backdoors, and operational disruption.

1. Immediate Patching: Install the April 2025 cumulative update for Windows Server.
2. Audit AD Permissions: Use tools like ACL Scanner to identify overly permissive access controls.
3. Enforce Zero Trust: Segment networks, restrict lateral movement, and mandate multi-factor authentication.
4. Monitor Authentication Logs: Flag unusual account modifications or privilege changes.

“This vulnerability undermines the trust model of Active Directory,” warns cybersecurity expert Priya Sharma of CERT-In. “Organizations must prioritize patching—delays could lead to catastrophic breaches.”

Active Directory remains a prime target due to its central role in enterprise authentication. This disclosure follows a 30% YoY increase in AD-targeted attacks since 2023, per Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report.

The company has also enhanced detection rules in Azure Sentinel and Defender for Identity to flag exploit attempts.

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