Critical Windows Disk Cleanup Tool Vulnerability - CVE-2025-21420

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Jan 29, 2025
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Critical Vulnerability in Windows Disk Cleanup Tool

Recently, a critical vulnerability in the Windows Disk Cleanup Tool (cleanmgr.exe) was addressed by Microsoft. Tracked as CVE-2025-21420, this security flaw has a CVSS rating of 7.8 and could allow attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability exploits DLL sideloading with cleanmgr.exe, allowing malicious code execution. A proof-of-concept exploit was published, demonstrating the ease of exploitation. Microsoft has released patches addressing this and other security issues in their February 2025 Patch Tuesday release.

Impacted Users

It's crucial for users to update their systems to mitigate potential risks. The simplicity of the exploit and the possibility of SYSTEM-level compromise make this vulnerability a serious threat.

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