Code execution via Base DLL search-path hijacking
Published Jul 28, 2025 · Updated Jul 28, 2025
DLL hijacking in Microsoft Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2 on ARM64 allows local users to execute code through a planted Base DLL. The PE32 compatibility loader gives application-directory Base DLLs higher priority than protected Windows directories. Exploitation requires planting a matching DLL beside a PE32 executable and inducing its launch; the DLL then runs with that process's privileges.
Summary
What happened
DLL hijacking in Microsoft Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2 on ARM64 allows local users to execute code through a planted Base DLL. The PE32 compatibility loader gives application-directory Base DLLs higher priority than protected Windows directories. Exploitation requires planting a matching DLL beside a PE32 executable and inducing its launch; the DLL then runs with that process's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-7676
- Published
- Jul 28, 2025
- Updated
- Jul 28, 2025
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows 11
- Classifications
- CWE-427, CAPEC-38, T1574.001
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 28, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 28, 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <24H2
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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