In April 2025, Microsoft disclosed a critical vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-27482, affecting the Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway) service across multiple Windows Server versions, including 2016, 2019, 2022, and the upcoming 2025 release.
Vulnerability Overview
CVE-2025-27482 arises from the improper locking of memory within the RD Gateway service. This flaw allows sensitive data to reside in memory regions that are not securely locked, potentially leading to unauthorized access. An unauthenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted requests to a vulnerable RD Gateway server, resulting in remote code execution (RCE).
The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-591: Sensitive Data Storage in Improperly Locked Memory, highlighting the risk of sensitive information being exposed due to inadequate memory protection mechanisms.
Risk Assessment
- Severity: High (CVSS v3.1 Score: 8.1)
- Attack Vector: Network
- Attack Complexity: High (requires precise timing to exploit a race condition)
- Privileges Required: None
- User Interaction: None
- Impact: High (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability)
Despite the high attack complexity, Microsoft has assessed the exploitation of this vulnerability as “More Likely”, indicating a significant risk if left unpatched.
Mitigation and Recommendations
- Apply Security Updates: Microsoft has released patches addressing this vulnerability in the April 2025 Patch Tuesday updates. Administrators should ensure that all affected systems are updated promptly.
- Restrict RD Gateway Access: Limit exposure by implementing network-level restrictions, allowing only trusted IP addresses to access the RD Gateway service.
- Monitor Network Traffic: Utilize intrusion detection and prevention systems to monitor for unusual activity targeting the RD Gateway service.
- Implement Least Privilege Principles: Ensure that users and services operate with the minimum privileges necessary, reducing the potential impact of a successful exploit.
Conclusion
CVE-2025-27482 represents a significant security concern for organizations utilizing Windows Remote Desktop Gateway services. Given the potential for unauthenticated remote code execution, it is imperative to address this vulnerability promptly through the application of security updates and the implementation of recommended mitigation strategies.
For detailed information and official guidance, refer to Microsoft’s Security Update Guide:
