CVE-2025-33053 KEVPublic exploit High · 8.8 EPSS 87.0%
Microsoft Windows External Control of File Name or Path Vulnerability
Microsoft · Windows
Summary
The flaw is an external control of file name or path weakness in the Internet Shortcut File handling of Microsoft Windows, which lets input influence the file name or path used. An unauthorized attacker can exploit it over a network to execute code, and this requires user interaction on the victim's side.
Official description · NVD
External control of file name or path in Internet Shortcut Files allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
Priority scorePatchfirst’s 0 to 100 ranking. It adds points for CISA KEV listing, ransomware use, EPSS, threat reports, public exploit code and CVSS. Every CVE page shows the breakdown. Breakdown
69.1 / 100
- Exploited
- Yes, in CISA KEV
- Reports
- 0
- Tactics
- 7/15
How an attack unfolds
Based on MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.How attackers get in
What they do
What can follow
Exploitation timelineDated milestones for a CVE: when it was disclosed, when exploit code became public, when exploitation was confirmed, and when threat reports named it.
First seen exploited the day it was disclosed. Public exploit code (Metasploit) appeared 1 day after disclosure.
- Public exploit codeMetasploit+1 day
CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.
MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. techniques
5 TechniqueOne specific attacker behaviour in MITRE ATT&CK, such as T1190 “Exploit Public-Facing Application”. IDs with a dot, like T1059.004, are sub-techniques., grouped by TacticThe attacker’s goal at a stage of an attack in MITRE ATT&CK, such as Initial Access or Persistence. Each technique belongs to one or more tactics. in kill-chain order 5Initial AccessTA0001
Spearphishing Attachment T1566.001 Medium Confidence (technique links)How sure Patchfirst is that an ATT&CK technique applies to this CVE. High and medium links are shown by default; low ones come from early or generic mappings, text matching, or contradict the CVE’s details.
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · how it is exploited
By manipulating the working directory of Windows processes, attackers can utilize these valid processes and trick them into running arbitrary code from a WebDAV server. This has been done by using a phishing email with a malicious PDF document attached, leading to code execution, the creation of backdoors, the introduction of a keylogger onto the system, and data exfiltration via C2.
ExecutionTA0002
Command and Scripting Interpreter T1059 Medium Confidence (technique links)How sure Patchfirst is that an ATT&CK technique applies to this CVE. High and medium links are shown by default; low ones come from early or generic mappings, text matching, or contradict the CVE’s details.
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · primary impact
PersistenceTA0003
Create or Modify System Process T1543 Medium Confidence (technique links)How sure Patchfirst is that an ATT&CK technique applies to this CVE. High and medium links are shown by default; low ones come from early or generic mappings, text matching, or contradict the CVE’s details. also Privilege Escalation
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity
Credential AccessTA0006
Keylogging T1056.001 Medium Confidence (technique links)How sure Patchfirst is that an ATT&CK technique applies to this CVE. High and medium links are shown by default; low ones come from early or generic mappings, text matching, or contradict the CVE’s details. also Collection
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity
ExfiltrationTA0010
Exfiltration Over C2 Channel T1041 Medium Confidence (technique links)How sure Patchfirst is that an ATT&CK technique applies to this CVE. High and medium links are shown by default; low ones come from early or generic mappings, text matching, or contradict the CVE’s details.
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity
Detection
3 rules for this CVE · 136 general rules for its techniquesRules for this CVE
3Sigma ruleAn open, vendor-neutral detection rule for log data. Security teams convert Sigma rules into searches for their own SIEM. that reference CVE-2025-33053 directly.General rules for this CVE’s techniques
These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.
Spearphishing AttachmentT1566.00124 general rules
- Droppers Exploiting CVE-2017-11882criticalstable
- Ursnif Malware C2 URL Patterncriticalstable
- Exploit for CVE-2017-8759criticaltest
- Suspicious Double Extension File Executionhighstable
- HTML Help HH.EXE Suspicious Child Processhightest
- ISO File Created Within Temp Foldershightest
- Office Macro File Creation From Suspicious Processhightest
- Password Protected ZIP File Opened (Email Attachment)hightest
Command and Scripting InterpreterT105995 general rules
- HackTool - Sliver C2 Implant Activity Patterncriticaltest
- Lazarus Group Activitycriticaltest
- REvil Kaseya Incident Malware Patternscriticaltest
- Turla Group Lateral Movementcriticaltest
- Windows Defender AMSI Trigger Detectedhighstable
- Windows Defender Threat Detectedhighstable
- Abusable DLL Potential Sideloading From Suspicious Locationhightest
- Add Insecure Download Source To Wingethightest
Create or Modify System ProcessT15439 general rules
- CodeIntegrity - Blocked Driver Load With Revoked Certificatehightest
- CodeIntegrity - Blocked Image/Driver Load For Policy Violationhightest
- KrbRelayUp Service Installationhightest
- PUA - Process Hacker Driver Loadhightest
- Service Installed By Unusual Client - Securityhightest
- Service Installed By Unusual Client - Systemhightest
- PUA - Process Hacker Executionmediumtest
- PUA - System Informer Driver Loadmediumtest
KeyloggingT1056.0013 general rules
- Linux Keylogging with Pam.dhightest
- Potential Keylogger Activitymediumtest
- Powershell Keyloggingmediumtest
Exfiltration Over C2 ChannelT10415 general rules
- Equation Group C2 Communicationhightest
- OpenCanary - TFTP Requesthightest
- Shai-Hulud NPM Package Malicious Exfiltration via Curlhighexperimental
- Network Communication Initiated To Portmap.IO Domainmediumtest
- Tunneling Tool Executionmediumtest
Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.
What security researchers reported
Not named in any threat report yetAlso mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)
Weaker evidencePulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 30, 202629 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 202628 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 202627 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 202626 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 202623 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 202622 Oct 2026
- 44 more on OTX