EUVD-2025-17721Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling File name/path control
|
| Impact | CVSS 8.8 (High). KEV-listed — actively exploited. EPSS 48.5% — high exploitation probability. Public PoC available. Requires user to open .url file (user interaction). Bypasses MOTW and SmartScreen. Common phishing vector. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker crafts a malicious .url file that exploits the path control vulnerability to execute code when opened. The file is delivered via phishing email, shared network drive, or USB. When the victim opens the .url file, instead of navigating to a web page, the exploit executes arbitrary code with the user's privileges. The MOTW and SmartScreen protections are bypassed, so the user receives no security warning. |
Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.
Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 14, 2026
Windows Internet Shortcut Files (.url) contain an external control vulnerability (CVE-2025-33053, CVSS 8.8) that enables remote code execution over a network. KEV-listed with EPSS 48.5% and public PoC, this vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious .url files that execute arbitrary code when opened, bypassing the security restrictions normally applied to internet-sourced shortcut files.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
Windows Internet Shortcut Files allow external control of file name or path (CWE-73), enabling attackers to craft malicious .url files that bypass security restrictions and execute arbitrary code when opened by a user.
RemediationAI
Apply Microsoft security update. Block .url file attachments at email gateways. Educate users about shortcut file risks. Enable ASR rules for Shell-based attack prevention.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 25 packages in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
Internet Shortcut (.url) files are simple text files that point to web resources. Windows handles them through the Shell, applying security checks based on the file's origin. This vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the file path or name handling to bypass security restrictions (Mark of the Web, SmartScreen) and execute arbitrary code. The .url format is particularly dangerous because it's commonly shared via email and file shares, and users often trust shortcut files.
Know when Windows gets its next vulnerability
- Watch products and get an email when something new is published
- Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
No credit card · 7-day full trial
Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionCVE.org
External control of file name or path in Internet Shortcut Files allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
Executive ViewAI
CVE-2025-33053 is a critical remote code execution vulnerability in Windows Internet Shortcut Files (.url) that is actively exploited in the wild with publicly available exploit code. Attackers can deliver malicious .url files via email, downloads, or file-sharing that execute arbitrary code when users open them, potentially compromising endpoints across your organization without requiring user privileges beyond opening a file.
Apply vendor patch. If patching is delayed: (1) Disable .url file execution via Group Policy-configure 'Internet Shortcuts' file type restrictions; (2) Block .url attachments at email gateway; (3) Implement application whitelisting to restrict execution from user-writable directories; (4) Require admin approval before opening files from untrusted sources; (5) Deploy network segmentation to limit lateral movement if code execution occurs.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
CISA KEV
EPSS
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.
Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.
Unauthenticated remote code execution in SmarterTools SmarterMail lets an attacker upload arbitrary files to any locatio
Windows Win32k fails to properly handle objects in memory, allowing local privilege escalation exploited in the wild in
A privilege escalation vulnerability (CVSS 5.5). Risk factors: actively exploited (KEV-listed), EPSS 94% exploitation pr
Windows SMB contains an improper access control vulnerability (CVE-2025-33073, CVSS 8.8) enabling authenticated attacker
Twonky Server 8.5.2 on Linux and Windows allows unauthenticated access to the admin log file through a web service API b
An unrestricted file upload vulnerability exists in MiniWeb HTTP Server <= Build 300 that allows unauthenticated remote
FreeFloat FTP Server contains multiple critical design flaws that allow unauthenticated remote attackers to upload arbit
Serviio Media Server versions 1.4 through 1.8 on Windows contain an unauthenticated command injection in the /rest/actio
Twonky Server 8.5.2 uses hard-coded cryptographic keys for encrypting the administrator password. Combined with the cred
Mako Server versions 2.5 and 2.6 contain an unauthenticated OS command injection via the tutorial interface at examples/
React Native Metro Development Server binds to external interfaces by default and contains an OS command injection endpo
Command injection in the Windows Shell lets remote, unauthenticated attackers bypass a Windows security feature and then
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB