CVE-2025-29795: New Microsoft Edge Vulnerability Exposes Local Privilege Escalation Risk

Microsoft Edge users face a new security threat with the discovery of CVE-2025-29795, a critical vulnerability that could allow attackers to escalate privileges on affected systems. This zero-day flaw in Microsoft's flagship browser exposes millions of Windows users to potential exploitation.

Understanding the Vulnerability

CVE-2025-29795 is a local privilege escalation (LPE) vulnerability affecting Microsoft Edge versions 124 through 126 on Windows 10 and 11 systems. The flaw exists in the browser's sandbox implementation and could allow malicious actors to:

  • Bypass security restrictions
  • Execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges
  • Gain system-level access on compromised machines
  • Potentially install persistent malware

Security researchers at SentinelOne discovered that the vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory objects in Edge's WebView2 component. "This flaw essentially punches a hole in Edge's security model," explained lead researcher Mark Henderson.

Technical Analysis

The vulnerability occurs when:

  1. A specially crafted webpage triggers a race condition in Edge's memory management
  2. The browser fails to properly validate permissions during cross-process communications
  3. Attackers can inject malicious code into privileged processes

What makes CVE-2025-29795 particularly dangerous is its:

  • Low attack complexity (CVSS score: 8.8)
  • Potential for weaponization in exploit chains
  • Lack of visible indicators when exploited

Current Threat Landscape

Microsoft has confirmed limited targeted attacks exploiting this vulnerability in the wild. Security firms have observed:

  • At least three distinct attack campaigns
  • Exploits bundled with fake browser updates
  • Phishing emails delivering malicious links

"We're seeing this used primarily against corporate targets in the financial sector," noted CERT/CC's latest advisory. However, all Edge users are potentially at risk until patched.

Mitigation and Workarounds

While Microsoft prepares an official patch, security experts recommend:

Immediate Actions:

  • Disable WebView2 components in enterprise environments
  • Restrict execution of Edge child processes via Group Policy
  • Enable Enhanced Security Mode for all browsing sessions

Configuration Changes: 

# Temporary mitigation PowerShell script
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Name "WebView2RuntimeEnabled" -Value 0

Patch Timeline

Microsoft has announced the vulnerability will be addressed in:

  • Edge 127 (Stable Channel) - Expected June 11, 2025
  • Out-of-band update for enterprise customers - May 28, 2025

Best Practices for Protection

Beyond specific mitigations, users should:

  1. Maintain strict endpoint protection with behavior monitoring
  2. Implement application whitelisting policies
  3. Conduct security awareness training about suspicious downloads
  4. Monitor for unusual process spawning from edge.exe

Historical Context

This marks the third major Edge vulnerability in 2025, following:

  • CVE-2025-12432 (January)
  • CVE-2025-18764 (March)

Browser security experts note an increasing trend in Chromium-based browser vulnerabilities, with 47% more critical flaws reported year-over-year.

Enterprise Implications

For organizations, this vulnerability presents particular challenges:

  • Potential lateral movement in networks
  • Compliance violations for regulated industries
  • Increased risk in BYOD environments

Gartner recommends "immediate review of all Edge deployment configurations" for enterprises.

Looking Ahead

As Microsoft works on a fix, the cybersecurity community remains vigilant. This incident highlights:

  • The growing sophistication of browser-based attacks
  • The importance of rapid patch deployment
  • Ongoing challenges in browser security architecture

Users should monitor Microsoft's security advisory portal for updates and apply patches immediately upon release.