Denial of Service Vulnerability in Windows Deployment Services by Microsoft

CVE-2025-29957

What is CVE-2025-29957?

CVE-2025-29957 is a denial of service (DoS) vulnerability identified in Microsoft Windows Deployment Services (WDS). WDS is a server role in Windows Server that enables network-based installation of Windows operating systems. This vulnerability occurs due to uncontrolled resource consumption, which can be exploited by unauthorized attackers to disrupt service locally. If successfully exploited, this could prevent legitimate users from accessing WDS, potentially halting critical operations that rely on the deployment of Windows systems across an organization's network. The vulnerability poses significant technical risks, as it does not require authentication, making it easier for an attacker to exploit and potentially impact organizational workflows.

Potential impact of CVE-2025-29957

1. Service Disruption: The primary impact of this vulnerability is the potential for complete service disruption within environments utilizing WDS. Attackers can overwhelm the service, leading to an inability for IT departments to deploy or manage Windows operating systems effectively, which could stall critical updates or system installations.

2. Operational Downtime: Organizations may experience significant operational downtime as a result of this vulnerability. With WDS incapacitated, employees and systems dependent on network-based installations may face delays, affecting productivity and potentially leading to financial losses.

3. Increased Recovery Costs: Addressing the aftermath of a successful attack exploiting this vulnerability could incur substantial recovery costs. Organizations may need to invest in additional resources to remediate the disruption, conduct investigations, and bolster security measures to prevent future exploits, all while managing the impact on ongoing business operations.

References