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Microsoft CVE-2025-43715

HIGH
Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (CWE-754)
2025-04-17 cve@mitre.org
8.1
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: mitre
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A10:2025 - Mishandling of Exceptional Conditions
ASVS 5.0
V16 - Security Logging and Error Handling Unusual condition handling
Impact

CVSS score of 8.1 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: local attack vector, high complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.12%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

Successful exploitation could compromise the high-severity affected system.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 28, 2026

Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS) before 3.11 on Windows allows local users to escalate privileges to SYSTEM during an installation, because the temporary plugins directory is created under. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is no authentication required. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

Affected ProductsAI

See vendor advisory for affected versions.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-754. Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS) before 3.11 on Windows allows local users to escalate privileges to SYSTEM during an installation, because the temporary plugins directory is created under %WINDIR%\temp and unprivileged users can place a crafted executable file by winning a race condition. This occurs because EW_CREATEDIR does not always set the CreateRestrictedDirectory error flag. Version information: before 3.11.

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Severity by source

Vendor (mitre) PRIMARY 8.1 HIGH
AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from Vendor (mitre) · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorVendor: mitre

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS) before 3.11 on Windows allows local users to escalate privileges to SYSTEM during an installation, because the temporary plugins directory is created under %WINDIR%\temp and unprivileged users can place a crafted executable file by winning a race condition. This occurs because EW_CREATEDIR does not always set the CreateRestrictedDirectory error flag.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2025-43715 presents notable security risk rated CVSS 8.1. Successful exploitation could significantly impact the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of affected systems. Organizations should apply vendor updates when available and consider compensating controls in the interim.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not feasible: (1) Implement network-level access controls to limit exposure; (2) Enable enhanced monitoring and alerting; (3) Apply principle of least privilege.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 68% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

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.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
High

Priority Score

60
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +40
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.

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