Windows Disk Cleanup Tool
CVE-2025-21420 — Windows Disk Cleanup Tool Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Executive Summary
None
Overview
7.8
CVSS HIGH
Important
MS Severity
Not Exploited
MS Exploit Status
More Likely
MS Exploit Likelihood
CVSS Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
ATTACK VECTOR
Local
ATTACK COMPLEXITY
Low
PRIVILEGES REQUIRED
Low
USER INTERACTION
None
SCOPE
Unchanged
CONFIDENTIALITY
High
INTEGRITY
High
AVAILABILITY
High
EXPLOIT CODE MATURITY
Unproven
REMEDIATION LEVEL
Official Fix
REPORT CONFIDENCE
Confirmed
Temporal Score: 6.8
EPSS Score
0.03627
probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
0.8833 percentile - updated 2026-07-25
View on FIRST.org
Affected Products
25 affected products
| Product | KB Article | Severity | Impact | Restart Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems | 5052040 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 for x64-based Systems | 5052040 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems | 5052006 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems | 5052006 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems | 5052000 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems | 5052000 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems | 5051974 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems | 5051974 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems | 5051974 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 22H2 for 32-bit Systems | 5051974 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems | 5051974 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems | 5051974 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 11 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems | 5051989 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems | 5051989 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems | 5051989 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems | 5051989 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems 5051987 (Security Update) 5052105 (SecurityHotpatchUpdate) Important Elevation of Privilege 5050009 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 6.8 Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C 10.0.26100.3194 10.0.26100.3107 Yes None Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems 5051987 (Security Update) 5052105 (SecurityHotpatchUpdate) Important Elevation of Privilege 5050009 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 6.8 Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C 10.0.26100.3194 10.0.26100.3107 Yes None Windows Server 2012 | 5052020 (Monthly Rollup) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) | 5052020 (Monthly Rollup) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 | 5052042 (Monthly Rollup) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) | 5052042 (Monthly Rollup) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server 2016 | 5052006 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) | 5052006 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server 2019 | 5052000 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) | 5052000 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
| Windows Server 2022 5051979 (Security Update) 5052106 (SecurityHotpatchUpdate) Important Elevation of Privilege 5049983 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 6.8 Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C 10.0.20348.3207 10.0.20348.3148 Yes None Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation) 5051979 (Security Update) 5052106 (SecurityHotpatchUpdate) Important Elevation of Privilege 5049983 Base: 7.8 Temporal: 6.8 Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C 10.0.20348.3207 10.0.20348.3148 Yes None Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation) | 5051980 (Security Update) |
Important | Elevation of Privilege | Yes |
Patches
8 patches
| Article | Type | Restart |
|---|---|---|
5052040 |
Security Update | Yes |
5052006 |
Security Update | Yes |
5052000 |
Security Update | Yes |
5051974 |
Security Update | Yes |
5051989 |
Security Update | Yes |
5052020 |
Monthly Rollup | Yes |
5052042 |
Monthly Rollup | Yes |
5051980 |
Security Update | Yes |
Patch Diff
ghidriff · cleanmgr.exe (KB5051987)
cleanmgr.exe (run by the privileged SilentCleanup task) gains a SetProcessMitigationPolicy(ProcessRedirectionTrustPolicy=0x10) call in WinMainT, enabling Redirection Guard so the kernel refuses to follow attacker-planted junctions during cleanup. This severs the arbitrary folder-contents-delete -> C:\Config.msi -> SYSTEM EoP primitive (CWE-59 link following). Gated behind WIL CFR Feature_3318489400; the call hard-fails the process if the policy cannot be applied. The import itself is absent from the vulnerable 1882 build.
| Function | Address | Change | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
__GSHandlerCheck |
1400122e4 -> 140016034 |
refcount, address | similarity 1.0 |
wil::details::unique_storage<struct_wil::details::resource_policy<void*___ptr64,void_(__cdecl*)(void*___ptr64)_noexcept,&void___cdecl_wil::details::CloseHandle(void*___ptr64),struct_wistd::integral_constant<unsigned___int64,0>,void*___ptr64,void*___ptr64,0,std::nullptr_t>_>::~unique_storage<struct_wil::details::resource_policy<void*___ptr64,void_(__cdecl*)(void*___ptr64)_noexcept,&void___cdecl_wil::details::CloseHandle(void*___ptr64),struct_wistd::integral_constant<unsigned___int64,0>,void*___ptr64,void*___ptr64,0,std::nullptr_t>_> |
1400038d8 -> 140003a44 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
wil::details_abi::SemaphoreValue::CreateFromValueInternal |
140003c1c -> 140003d4c |
refcount, address, calling, called | similarity 0.98 |
wil::details::WilFailureNotifyWatchers |
140005afc -> 140005c7c |
code, length, address | similarity 0.89 |
wil::details::unique_storage<struct_wil::details::resource_policy<void*___ptr64,void_(__cdecl*)(void*___ptr64)_noexcept,&void___cdecl_wil::details::CloseHandle(void*___ptr64),struct_wistd::integral_constant<unsigned___int64,0>,void*___ptr64,void*___ptr64,0,std::nullptr_t>_>::reset |
140005c78 -> 140005e00 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
wil::mutex_t<class_wil::details::unique_storage<struct_wil::details::resource_policy<void*___ptr64,void_(__cdecl*)(void*___ptr64)_noexcept,&void___cdecl_wil::details::CloseHandle(void*___ptr64),struct_wistd::integral_constant<unsigned___int64,0>,void*___ptr64,void*___ptr64,0,std::nullptr_t>_>,struct_wil::err_returncode_policy>::acquire |
140005ba0 -> 140005d28 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
wil::details::GetLastErrorFailHr |
1400042b8 -> 140004428 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
operator_delete |
140005dc4 -> 140006620 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
wil::details::in1diag3::FailFast_Unexpected |
140003d44 -> 140003e9c |
code, length, address | similarity 0.86 |
wil::last_error_context::last_error_context |
140003738 -> 140003834 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
MSVCRT.DLL::memcpy_s |
EXTERNAL:00000028 -> EXTERNAL:0000002b |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
API-MS-WIN-CORE-SYNCH-L1-1-0.DLL::AcquireSRWLockExclusive |
EXTERNAL:00000074 -> EXTERNAL:00000070 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
atexit |
140002920 -> 140002a20 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
API-MS-WIN-CORE-HEAP-L1-1-0.DLL::HeapFree |
EXTERNAL:0000005c -> EXTERNAL:0000005d |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
wil::TraceLoggingProvider::Initialize |
140008890 -> 14000a020 |
refcount, address | similarity 1.0 |
StringCchPrintfW |
14000570c -> 14000581c |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
API-MS-WIN-CORE-PROCESSTHREADS-L1-1-0.DLL::GetCurrentProcessId |
EXTERNAL:00000058 -> EXTERNAL:00000056 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
wil::details::in1diag3::Return_Hr |
140005358 -> 140005418 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
wil::details_abi::ProcessLocalStorage<struct_wil::details_abi::ProcessLocalData>::~ProcessLocalStorage<struct_wil::details_abi::ProcessLocalData> |
140003764 -> 140003860 |
code, length, address, called | similarity 0.2 |
_purecall |
1400071c0 -> 14000a660 |
refcount, address | similarity 1.0 |
API-MS-WIN-CORE-HEAP-L1-1-0.DLL::GetProcessHeap |
EXTERNAL:0000005a -> EXTERNAL:0000005e |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
WinMainT |
140006614 -> 14000955c |
code, length, address, called | similarity 0.25 |
wil::details_abi::ProcessLocalStorageData<struct_wil::details_abi::ProcessLocalData>::Acquire |
140003964 -> 140003ad0 |
code, length, address, called | similarity 0.63 |
wil::details::FreeProcessHeap |
140003dc0 -> 140003f30 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 0.9 |
wil::details::ProcessHeapAlloc |
140004f78 -> 1400050e8 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
wil::details_abi::SemaphoreValue::~SemaphoreValue |
140003918 -> 140003a84 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
wil::details::unique_storage<struct_wil::details::resource_policy<void*___ptr64,void_(__cdecl*)(void*___ptr64)_noexcept,&void___cdecl_wil::details::ReleaseMutex(void*___ptr64),struct_wistd::integral_constant<unsigned___int64,2>,void*___ptr64,void*___ptr64,0,std::nullptr_t>_>::~unique_storage<struct_wil::details::resource_policy<void*___ptr64,void_(__cdecl*)(void*___ptr64)_noexcept,&void___cdecl_wil::details::ReleaseMutex(void*___ptr64),struct_wistd::integral_constant<unsigned___int64,2>,void*___ptr64,void*___ptr64,0,std::nullptr_t>_> |
1400038f8 -> 140003a64 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
USER32.DLL::LoadIconW |
EXTERNAL:00000016 |
refcount, calling | similarity 1.0 |
wil::details::ReportFailure_Hr<3> |
1400032f8 -> 1400033f8 |
code, refcount, length, address, calling | similarity 0.84 |
wil_details_GetNtDllProcedureAddress |
140005d60 -> 140005f44 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 0.91 |
wil::last_error_context::~last_error_context |
140003940 -> 140003aac |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
__security_check_cookie |
1400123c0 -> 140016110 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
wil::details::`dynamic_initializer_for_'g_header_init_WilInitialize_ResultMacros_DesktopOrSystem'' |
1400024d0 |
code, length | similarity 0.95 |
memset |
140012376 -> 1400160d2 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 0.89 |
API-MS-WIN-CORE-SYNCH-L1-1-0.DLL::CreateMutexExW |
EXTERNAL:00000077 -> EXTERNAL:0000007b |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
wil::details::unique_storage<struct_wil::details::resource_policy<struct__RTL_SRWLOCK*___ptr64,void_(__cdecl*)(struct__RTL_SRWLOCK*___ptr64),&void___cdecl_ReleaseSRWLockExclusive(struct__RTL_SRWLOCK*___ptr64),struct_wistd::integral_constant<unsigned___int64,1>,struct__RTL_SRWLOCK*___ptr64,struct__RTL_SRWLOCK*___ptr64,0,std::nullptr_t>_>::~unique_storage<struct_wil::details::resource_policy<struct__RTL_SRWLOCK*___ptr64,void_(__cdecl*)(struct__RTL_SRWLOCK*___ptr64),&void___cdecl_ReleaseSRWLockExclusive(struct__RTL_SRWLOCK*___ptr64),struct_wistd::integral_constant<unsigned___int64,1>,struct__RTL_SRWLOCK*___ptr64,struct__RTL_SRWLOCK*___ptr64,0,std::nullptr_t>_> |
140009a20 -> 14000635c |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
__chkstk |
140012480 -> 1400161d0 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 1.0 |
_guard_dispatch_icall$thunk$10345483385596137414 |
140013010 -> 140017010 |
refcount, address, calling | similarity 0.89 |
wil_details_GetKernelBaseProcAddress |
140005ccc -> 140005ea8 |
code, refcount, length, address, calling | similarity 0.94 |
wistd::__throw_bad_function_call |
140005b74 -> 140005cfc |
name, fullname, refcount, sig, address, calling, parent | similarity 1.0 |
wil::details_abi::SemaphoreValue::TryGetPointer |
140005818 -> 140005928 |
code, name, fullname, refcount, length, sig, address, calling, called | similarity 0.15 |
wil::details::FeatureImpl<struct___WilFeatureTraits_Feature_3318489400>::__private_IsEnabled |
1400071e8 -> 140009fe4 |
code, name, fullname, refcount, length, sig, address, calling, called, parent | similarity 0.29 |
Known Exploits
No known exploits have been linked for this CVE yet. When available, exploit references will be sourced from public repositories and may be unverified, incomplete, or non-functional. Always review code carefully before use in any environment.
Acknowledgments
None
References
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