CVE-2025-4525Public exploit

Local code execution via uncontrolled DLL search

Published May 10, 2025 · Updated May 12, 2025

Uncontrolled DLL search in Discord Desktop App 1.0.9188 for Windows allows local users to execute code via a crafted WINSTA.dll. The client resolves WINSTA.dll through an uncontrolled search path, allowing an attacker-supplied library to load in the Discord process; published material does not identify the responsible function or exact searched directory. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a high-complexity setup, and successful loading grants code execution with the Discord process's access.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled DLL search in Discord Desktop App 1.0.9188 for Windows allows local users to execute code via a crafted WINSTA.dll. The client resolves WINSTA.dll through an uncontrolled search path, allowing an attacker-supplied library to load in the Discord process; published material does not identify the responsible function or exact searched directory. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a high-complexity setup, and successful loading grants code execution with the Discord process's access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-4525
Published
May 10, 2025
Updated
May 12, 2025
Vendor
Discord
Product
Discord Desktop App
Classifications
CWE-427, CWE-426, T1574.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 10, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 12, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.0.9188

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Discord · Discord Desktop Appversion=1.0.9188

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0VulDBCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.3VulDBCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
6.0VulDBAV:L/AC:H/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
T1574.002Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Side-Loading

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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