Note: below is a long-form, technically focused feature article about CVE-2025-53804. I drew on Microsoft’s official entry for this CVE and on Microsoft documentation and guidance about kernel-mode drivers and driver blocklists to explain the risk, likely exploitation paths, detection and remediation steps, and recommended defensive actions. Where Microsoft’s advisory gives only limited public detail I call that out and give defensible, practical guidance that applies to this class of vulnerability.
Title: CVE-2025-53804 — Windows Kernel-Mode Driver Information Disclosure: what admins and defenders must know now
Executive summary
CVE-2025-53804 is an information-disclosure vulnerability in the Windows kernel that Microsoft cataloged in its Security Update Guide as “Windows Kernel-Mode Driver Information Disclosure Vulnerability.” Microsoft’s short description: “Exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor in Windows Kernel allows an authorized attacker to disclose information locally.” .
Public technical details are scarce. Microsoft has recorded the issue in the update guide, but (at the time of writing) Microsoft’s CVE page is the primary official source with limited public technical specifics. Treat this as a confirmed vulnerability in the kernel/driver layer that permits local disclosure of sensitive kernel memory/data when exploited. .
Because the vulnerability is in kernel-mode driver code, exploitation is typically local (the adversary needs local access or to get code running locally) and could be used by an attacker with low or medium privileges to disclose kernel or other protected memory contents; that can yield credentials, secrets, or other sensitive data and may be a stepping stone to privilege escalation or other post-exploit activity. Practical defensive guidance: deploy Microsoft’s security updates as soon as possible; enable and/or enforce the Microsoft Vulnerable Driver Blocklist and HVCI/Memory Integrity where feasible; hunt for suspicious/unsigned or known-vulnerable drivers; and apply endpoint detection rules and memory/driver integrity checks. (msrc.microsoft.com, ninjaone.com, csoonline.com, learn.microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com, Security Update Guide - Microsoft Security Response Center