Source: CrowdStrike Blog Author: Falcon Exposure Management Team URL: https://www.crowdstrike.com/en-us/blog/patch-tuesday-analysis-february-2025/

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:

Microsoft’s February 2025 Patch Tuesday addresses 67 vulnerabilities, including three Critical flaws and four zero-days impacting Windows and Surface devices.

MAIN POINTS:

1. Microsoft released security updates for 67 vulnerabilities in February 2025.
2. Three of these vulnerabilities are classified as Critical.
3. Four zero-day vulnerabilities affect Windows NTLMv2 hash, Storage, and Ancillary Function Driver, plus Surface devices.
4. Remote code execution (RCE) is the most common exploitation technique, comprising 42% of vulnerabilities.
5. Elevation of privilege vulnerabilities account for 32% of the total.
6. Eight vulnerabilities impact Azure Linux, though their severity was not disclosed.
7. Microsoft did not include Azure Linux vulnerabilities in their main risk analysis figure.
8. Patch Tuesday updates aim to mitigate security threats across multiple Microsoft products.
9. Organizations should prioritize patching Critical and zero-day vulnerabilities immediately.
10. Surface devices are also affected, highlighting the broader impact of these security flaws.

TAKEAWAYS:

1. Immediate patching is necessary for the three Critical and four zero-day vulnerabilities.
2. Remote code execution remains a dominant security risk in Microsoft’s ecosystem.
3. Elevation of privilege flaws continue to be a significant concern for system security.
4. Azure Linux users should monitor Microsoft’s advisories despite missing severity details.
5. Businesses and users must stay proactive in applying security updates to mitigate threats.