Local code execution via shell use-after-free
Published Apr 8, 2025 · Updated Aug 10, 2026
Use-after-free in Windows Shell allows local users to execute arbitrary code on affected Windows 10, Windows 11, and Server builds. Microsoft identifies Windows Shell as the affected component but has not disclosed the freed object's identity or the operation that reuses it. Exploitation requires user interaction and local execution context; successful exploitation runs attacker-controlled code with the victim process's privileges.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Windows Shell allows local users to execute arbitrary code on affected Windows 10, Windows 11, and Server builds. Microsoft identifies Windows Shell as the affected component but has not disclosed the freed object's identity or the operation that reuses it. Exploitation requires user interaction and local execution context; successful exploitation runs attacker-controlled code with the victim process's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-27729
- Published
- Apr 8, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 10, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 8, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 10, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.3775
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo