April 2025 served as another stark reminder of how quickly threat actors adapt and exploit newly discovered weaknesses. Critical vulnerabilities disclosed this month span a wide range of technologies, including enterprise software like SAP NetWeaver, core components of Windows, and widely used services like Apache Tomcat. Several of these CVEs have already been exploited in the wild, elevating the risk level for unpatched environments. This article takes a closer look at the most significant CVEs disclosed in April, explaining the nature of each vulnerability and offering mitigation strategies that should be acted on immediately.
What We'll Cover
CVE-2025-31324: A Critical Flaw in SAP NetWeaver
Severity: Critical
CVSS Score: 10.0
Vulnerability Type: Missing Authorization Check
Impact: Remote Code Execution, Data Manipulation, Service Disruption
Affected Systems: SAP NetWeaver 7.xx (All SPS), Visual Composer “developmentserver”
CVE-2025-31324 is a particularly alarming vulnerability for organizations relying on SAP NetWeaver. The issue stems from a missing authorization check in the Visual Composer development server component, which allows attackers to upload arbitrary code without proper authentication. This flaw has been given a CVSS score of 10.0, making it one of the highest-severity vulnerabilities disclosed this month.
The potential damage here is substantial. If exploited, an attacker can execute arbitrary code on the affected system, potentially leading to full system compromise. It’s a clear example of how a seemingly small oversight, like missing an authorization check, can open the door to catastrophic consequences. This kind of vulnerability is particularly dangerous for business-critical systems that store sensitive data.
Mitigation Strategies:
If you’re using any version of SAP NetWeaver that includes the Visual Composer development server, apply the patch released by SAP as soon as possible. If this component is not necessary for your operations, consider removing it altogether to minimize the risk. Always follow best practices for securing your SAP systems and limiting access to critical components.
CVE-2025-29824: Elevation of Privilege in Windows CLFS Driver
Severity: Important
CVSS Score: 7.8
Vulnerability Type: Elevation of Privilege
Impact: Local Privilege Escalation
Affected Systems: Multiple Windows versions, notably Windows 10
CVE-2025-29824 revolves around a vulnerability in the Windows Common Log File System (CLFS) driver, which allows attackers to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM level. This means that someone with limited access could potentially gain full control over a vulnerable system. The fact that this flaw was actively exploited in the wild before a patch was released makes it even more concerning.
Privilege escalation vulnerabilities are always a serious concern because they give attackers more control over compromised systems. In this case, once an attacker gains SYSTEM-level privileges, they can bypass security controls, install malware, and perform other malicious actions. These types of flaws are often used as a stepping stone in more sophisticated attacks, allowing attackers to move laterally through a network.
Mitigation Strategies:
Make sure to apply the security updates from Microsoft immediately. This vulnerability was actively being exploited, so don’t wait for it to become a bigger issue. Additionally, make sure your user access policies are strict, and consider using tools to monitor for privilege escalation attempts.
CVE-2025-27480 & CVE-2025-27482: Remote Code Execution in Windows RDS
Severity: Critical
CVSS Score: 8.1
Vulnerability Type: Remote Code Execution
Impact: Full System Compromise
Affected Systems: Windows Server with Remote Desktop Gateway
Both CVE-2025-27480 and CVE-2025-27482 are remote code execution vulnerabilities in Windows Remote Desktop Services (RDS), with the potential for attackers to execute arbitrary code without any authentication. The exploitation of these flaws would allow attackers to take complete control over affected systems, making them extremely dangerous, especially in environments where Remote Desktop Gateway is exposed to the internet.
The key takeaway here is that exploitation doesn’t require authentication, meaning any attacker who can reach your RDS system can exploit these flaws. This could lead to full system compromise, with an attacker able to execute arbitrary code and gain access to sensitive data. Remote Desktop Services are commonly used by organizations for remote access, which makes this a critical issue for businesses relying on them for remote work.
Mitigation Strategies:
Microsoft has released patches for these vulnerabilities, and applying them should be a priority. If you’re using Remote Desktop Services, especially with a Gateway role exposed to the internet, make sure these systems are up-to-date. Additionally, consider using multi-factor authentication (MFA) and other protective measures to minimize the impact of any future attacks.
CVE-2025-24859: Critical Session Management Vulnerability in Apache Roller
Severity: Critical
CVSS Score: 9.8
Vulnerability Type: Session Management Flaw
Impact: Unauthorized Access, Data Breach
Affected Systems: Apache Roller 6.1.4 and prior versions
CVE-2025-24859 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Roller, an open-source blog and content management system. The flaw lies in Apache Roller’s session management, where user sessions are not properly invalidated after a password change. As a result, even after users change their credentials, active sessions remain, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to the system.
This vulnerability poses a significant risk, as it can lead to unauthorized users maintaining access to a system, potentially leading to data breaches, exposure of sensitive information, and further exploitation of the compromised environment. Organizations using Apache Roller must act quickly to mitigate the risk posed by this flaw.
Mitigation Strategies:
Upgrade to Apache Roller 6.1.5 or later, which resolves this issue by ensuring that all active sessions are properly invalidated when passwords are changed.
If patching is not immediately possible, restrict access to the application and review session management configurations to minimize exposure.
Regularly audit user access and session management policies to ensure proper invalidation of sessions across all critical applications.
CVE-2025-27745: Remote Code Execution in Microsoft Office
Severity: Critical
CVSS Score: 7.8
Vulnerability Type: Remote Code Execution
Impact: Remote Code Execution
Affected Systems: Microsoft Office
CVE-2025-27745 impacts multiple Microsoft Office products, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening a specially crafted document. This is a classic example of a vulnerability that leverages social engineering, where users are the weak link in the security chain. Once the document is opened, the attacker can execute malicious code and compromise the system.
Given how widespread Microsoft Office is, this vulnerability has the potential to affect a huge number of organizations. Social engineering remains one of the most effective attack vectors for cybercriminals, and this CVE is a reminder of how important it is to ensure that your users are aware of the risks when handling email attachments or downloading files from untrusted sources.
Mitigation Strategies:
Apply the security updates for Microsoft Office that were released in April 2025. Educate your users about the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious documents, and consider using security tools that can detect and block malicious attachments.
April’s vulnerabilities are a clear warning. Hackers continue to rely on old entry points because they still work. These flaws affect systems that many organizations use every day, and some are already being used in real-world attacks. The risk is not just technical. It affects business operations and trust. Staying secure means acting fast, staying informed, and treating patching as part of daily operations. The companies that take this seriously will be the ones that avoid trouble.
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