It's that familiar rhythm for IT professionals and Windows enthusiasts alike: Patch Tuesday, when Microsoft, Adobe, Apple, SAP, Ivanti, and others drop their latest security updates, sparking a global rush to review, test, and deploy critical fixes before threat actors can capitalize. Yet, with each monthly release comes a flurry of anxiety, especially when new zero-day vulnerabilities are already under active attack. This May’s Patch Tuesday is particularly noteworthy, as Microsoft revealed five separate flaws being exploited in the wild, while Apple, Adobe, and a handful of enterprise vendors simultaneously scrambled to fix multiple severe security gaps. As the stakes for cyber hygiene continue to escalate, this month's patch bundle underscores just how relentless the exploit landscape has become—and how essential these updates are to keeping business and personal systems safe.
Microsoft’s latest Patch Tuesday may not have delivered the year’s largest update—78 patches in total—but it arguably brings the most urgency. The centerpiece of May’s security release: five unique vulnerabilities that, while rated “Important” (rather than “Critical”), are confirmed to be under active exploitation.
A glance at the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) scores for these flaws—ranging from 7.5 to 7.8 out of 10—indicates a high risk, particularly since they impact Windows 10, Windows 11, and all supported Windows Server releases since 2019. For system administrators, these five should immediately top the patching queue:
These five bugs, while labeled “Important” rather than “Critical,” are prime examples of how CVSS base scores and vendor risk ratings don’t always align with real-world threat levels. Microsoft’s transparency in disclosing active exploitations reflects a positive shift, but underlying messaging may inadvertently lull organizations into underestimating these vulnerabilities’ importance. Any environment delaying these fixes is leaving the door wide open to opportunistic attackers.
There are also seven Denial-of-Service (DoS) patches in this batch, although Microsoft provides scant actionable detail other than the risk of network or local outages. As usual, the opacity around DoS vulnerabilities frustrates administrators, undermining effective risk assessment.
Ivanti’s ascent as a Patch Tuesday participant reflects the increasing weaponization of enterprise management software, where privilege escalation can give attackers a foothold deep within the infrastructure.
Organizations leveraging Azure, SAP, Ivanti, and Adobe products must similarly prioritize both cloud and on-premises updates, recognizing that exploit chains increasingly cross vendor boundaries. Apple users, particularly those managing highly targeted or high-security assets, should apply the latest updates urgently, especially where exploits known to be leveraged by state-grade actors are concerned.
As the landscape grows more complex—with cloud, endpoint, creative, and management platforms each providing their own unique attack surfaces—the only constants are the relentless pace of attacker innovation and the necessity for defenders to keep up. Patch Tuesday may bring relief in the form of fixes, but only for those nimble enough to apply them before adversaries turn fresh vulnerabilities into new breach vectors.
The months ahead are unlikely to bring any slowdown in threat volume or exploit sophistication. For now, May’s Patch Tuesday serves as a timely reminder: in a world where even “important” flaws are weaponized overnight, security is not a one-off project—it’s a way of life.
Source: theregister.com Microsoft, Apple fix exploited flaws on Patch Tuesday
Inside Microsoft’s May Patch Tuesday: Five Exploited Flaws, All ‘Important’
Microsoft’s latest Patch Tuesday may not have delivered the year’s largest update—78 patches in total—but it arguably brings the most urgency. The centerpiece of May’s security release: five unique vulnerabilities that, while rated “Important” (rather than “Critical”), are confirmed to be under active exploitation.A glance at the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) scores for these flaws—ranging from 7.5 to 7.8 out of 10—indicates a high risk, particularly since they impact Windows 10, Windows 11, and all supported Windows Server releases since 2019. For system administrators, these five should immediately top the patching queue:
1. CVE-2025-30397: Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability
Type confusion bugs have become a favorite among attackers, and CVE-2025-30397 is a textbook example. Microsoft’s Scripting Engine can be tricked into executing unauthorized code via a crafted network request, handing a remote attacker full code execution on an unpatched machine. This issue resonates with previous scripting engine flaws, which have frequently enabled drive-by exploits via malicious email or browser content.2. CVE-2025-30400: Desktop Window Manager (DWM) Use-After-Free Elevation
Elevation-of-privilege vulnerabilities have become increasingly valuable for attackers seeking lateral movement or persistence within compromised networks. Here, CVE-2025-30400 targets the Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) through a use-after-free (UAF) bug, allowing an attacker with even basic network rights to escalate privileges on Windows 10, 11, and notably, Windows Server 2025—a rare expansion of attack surface beyond typical client endpoints.3. CVE-2025-32701: Windows Common Log File System Driver Use-After-Free
The Common Log File System Driver—a foundational component for logging across Windows—comes under fire with another UAF flaw (CVE-2025-32701). Successful exploitation lets adversaries escalate to SYSTEM privileges, providing complete operational control. The persistence of UAF vulnerabilities in core drivers highlights an ongoing challenge for Microsoft: legacy code complexity versus modern exploit techniques.4. CVE-2025-32706: Common Log File System Input Validation
Akin to CVE-2025-32701, but leveraging improper input validation, CVE-2025-32706 opens the door to local or network-based privilege escalation, once again to SYSTEM capabilities. The concentration of exploited bugs in the Common Log File System raises red flags about potential “bug classes” still lurking in foundational subsystems.5. CVE-2025-32709: WinSock Ancillary Function Driver Use-After-Free
WinSock is the backbone for internet connectivity in Windows. CVE-2025-32709 leverages a UAF flaw in the Ancillary Function Driver, enabling local attackers to gain admin privileges. UAFs, notorious for their reliability, show attackers’ continued focus on memory corruption as a path to system compromise.These five bugs, while labeled “Important” rather than “Critical,” are prime examples of how CVSS base scores and vendor risk ratings don’t always align with real-world threat levels. Microsoft’s transparency in disclosing active exploitations reflects a positive shift, but underlying messaging may inadvertently lull organizations into underestimating these vulnerabilities’ importance. Any environment delaying these fixes is leaving the door wide open to opportunistic attackers.
The Azure Trifecta: Three Critical Cloud Patche
While the five exploited Windows vulnerabilities captured much attention, three Azure flaws—two rated “Critical”—deserve equal scrutiny given their potential to undermine cloud-hosted assets and DevOps pipelines:- CVE-2025-29813 (CVSS 10/10): An authentication bypass in Azure DevOps, considered a perfect 10 for severity. Microsoft has already fixed this issue in production environments but released the CVE to inform customers for transparency and tracking.
- CVE-2025-29827 (CVSS 9.9): Elevation of privilege in Azure Automation, which could let attackers obtain unauthorized control over automation resources.
- CVE-2025-29972 (CVSS 9.9): A spoofing attack against Azure Storage Resource Provider, which could lead to unauthorized access or data manipulation.
Beyond the Top Five: Full May Patch Summary
The scope of May’s Patch Tuesday stretches well beyond the five public exploitations and Azure emergencies. According to Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative summary, other notable vulnerabilities include:| CVE | Component | Severity | CVSS | Public/Exploited | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2025-26685 | Microsoft Defender for Identity | Important | 6.5 | Yes/No | Spoofing |
| CVE-2025-32702 | Visual Studio | Important | 7.8 | Yes/No | Remote Code Execution |
| CVE-2025-47732 | Microsoft Dataverse | Critical | 8.7 | No/No | Remote Code Execution |
| CVE-2025-33072 | msagsfeedback.azurewebsites.net | Critical | 8.1 | No/No | Info Disclosure |
| CVE-2025-30377 | Microsoft Office | Critical | 8.4 | No/No | Remote Code Execution |
| CVE-2025-47733 | Microsoft Power Apps | Critical | 9.1 | No/No | Info Disclosure |
| CVE-2025-29833 | Virtual Machine Bus (VMBus) | Critical | 7.1 | No/No | Remote Code Execution |
| CVE-2025-29966 | Remote Desktop Client | Critical | 8.8 | No/No | Remote Code Execution |
| CVE-2025-29967 | Remote Desktop Client | Critical | 8.8 | No/No | Remote Code Execution |
Critical Analysis: Strengths and Risks in Microsoft’s Approach
Notable Strengths
- Transparency on Exploited Flaws: For several years, Microsoft has improved its disclosure practices, now explicitly noting exploitation in the wild. This allows organizations to prioritize their patching more effectively.
- Cloud Patch Visibility: The inclusion of Azure vulnerabilities in the public CVE list, despite being fixed in production, provides much-needed transparency for cloud-dependent enterprises striving for continuous compliance.
- Rapid Patch Delivery: Microsoft’s cadence continues to ensure that, even for complex bugs (like those in core Windows drivers), fixes are developed and shipped in a timely manner relative to public awareness.
Ongoing and Emerging Risks
- Downplaying Severity of Active Exploits: The “Important” designation for actively exploited flaws could mislead smaller IT shops or resource-constrained organizations into delaying action, particularly those who rigidly patch “Critical” CVEs first.
- Windows 10, 11, and Server Exposure: The multi-generational impact means that virtually all Microsoft-supported endpoints and servers are at risk, placing enormous pressure on organizations with legacy or slow-moving upgrade cycles.
- Driver/Subsystem Vulnerability Chains: The cluster of bugs in low-level drivers—specifically, the Common Log File System and WinSock Ancillary Function Driver—hints at potentially undiscovered exploit chains, especially where privilege escalation can be combined with remote code execution.
- Cloud Dependency Complexity: While Microsoft’s rapid patching of Azure in production environments is reassuring, hybrid and private cloud users must manually verify patch status—a non-trivial challenge, especially with third-party integrations.
Adobe’s May Patches: Focus on Creative Apps, but ColdFusion Still Buggy
Despite a slight delay in deployment, Adobe’s own Patch Tuesday batch covers a swath of creative and enterprise software. Leading the fix list:- Photoshop: Three critical flaws enabling arbitrary code execution, primarily discovered by prolific security researcher ‘yjdfy.’
- Illustrator and Animate: One critical bug in Illustrator, and three out of five Animate bugs found by yjdfy.
- ColdFusion: Continues its bug-prone reputation, with eight vulnerabilities addressed this month.
- Substance 3D Stager: Six flaws (five critical), reflecting the growing complexity of Adobe’s 3D content creation suite.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strength: Adobe’s willingness to credit external security researchers suggests a robust bug bounty culture, improving detection and response.
- Risk: ColdFusion’s persistent security debt, alongside frequent critical flaws in flagship creative applications, underscores ongoing risks for businesses that depend on legacy and creative cloud environments.
Apple’s Extensive Pre-emptive Patch Drop
Apple, primed for Patch Tuesday disruption, released its updates a day early, front-running attackers and its competitors. While only one exploited flaw (CoreAudio on iOS devices pre-18.4.1) was confirmed as used in highly targeted, sophisticated attacks—potentially government-grade spyware—the volume of updates is remarkable:- iOS/iPadOS 18.5: 31 fixes (some code removals).
- iOS/iPadOS 17.77: 29 fixes.
- Safari 18.5: Eight WebKit vulnerabilities.
- macOS Sequoia 15.5: 46 fixes.
- macOS Sonoma 14.7.6: 31 fixes.
- Ventura 13.7.6: 29 fixes.
- visionOS 2.5: 23 flaws.
Analysis
- Strength: Faster patching cycles and early notification reinforce Apple’s reputation for robust remediation, especially against high-profile, targeted exploitation.
- Risk: Enterprise environments running mixed device fleets face an unprecedented patch management challenge given such cross-platform volume.
Enterprise Flavors: SAP, Ivanti, and the Expanding Patch Tuesday Ecosystem
The Patch Tuesday phenomenon—once almost synonymous with Microsoft—now encompasses the broader business SaaS and enterprise ecosystem.SAP: NetWeaver Redux and Critical Cloud Fixes
SAP released 18 updates, most notably reissuing a CVSS 10 fix for NetWeaver, its business application platform, struck by a devastating bug at April’s end. New critical and medium patches also tamed related NetWeaver exposure.Ivanti: From Near-Obscure to Major Security Watch
Ivanti, a rising presence on the Patch Tuesday circuit, fixed a critical CVSS 9.8 privilege escalation vulnerability in its ITSM platform—potentially allowing anyone with physical access to grab admin rights on vulnerable systems. The company also released patches for its Cloud Services Application (privilege escalation, CVSS 7.8) and Neurons for MDM (minor, CVSS 5.4).Ivanti’s ascent as a Patch Tuesday participant reflects the increasing weaponization of enterprise management software, where privilege escalation can give attackers a foothold deep within the infrastructure.
Takeaway for Windows and Enterprise Defenders
For enterprise IT professionals, security engineers, and Windows power users, the message from this Patch Tuesday is unambiguous: react quickly, patch thoroughly, and do not underestimate the risks from “Important” vulnerabilities simply because vendor tags suggest they’re less urgent. Additionally, the pattern of exploited flaws—centered not just in browser-facing code, but deep within core drivers and services—highlights the necessity of robust endpoint detection, least-privilege deployment, and layered defense strategies.Organizations leveraging Azure, SAP, Ivanti, and Adobe products must similarly prioritize both cloud and on-premises updates, recognizing that exploit chains increasingly cross vendor boundaries. Apple users, particularly those managing highly targeted or high-security assets, should apply the latest updates urgently, especially where exploits known to be leveraged by state-grade actors are concerned.
As the landscape grows more complex—with cloud, endpoint, creative, and management platforms each providing their own unique attack surfaces—the only constants are the relentless pace of attacker innovation and the necessity for defenders to keep up. Patch Tuesday may bring relief in the form of fixes, but only for those nimble enough to apply them before adversaries turn fresh vulnerabilities into new breach vectors.
The months ahead are unlikely to bring any slowdown in threat volume or exploit sophistication. For now, May’s Patch Tuesday serves as a timely reminder: in a world where even “important” flaws are weaponized overnight, security is not a one-off project—it’s a way of life.
Source: theregister.com Microsoft, Apple fix exploited flaws on Patch Tuesday
