Top 10 Zero-Day Exploits You Need to Know About in 2025

Zero-day exploits remain the crown jewels of the cyber threat landscape—vulnerabilities that are exploited before vendors even know they exist. In 2025, with the rapid evolution of attack methodologies (and the rise of AI-driven techniques), security professionals and hackers alike need to be on high alert. In this post, we dive into the top 10 zero-day exploits that are making waves this year, explain their inner workings, and provide actionable recommendations for mitigation. Whether you’re a red team enthusiast or a defender hardening your environment, read on for a deep technical exploration.

by Kathan Desai

March 04, 2025

Top 10 Zero-Day Exploits You Need to Know About in 2025

1. Apple Core Media Framework Zero-Day (CVE-2025-24085)

Overview:
A critical use‐after‐free vulnerability in Apple’s Core Media Framework has emerged, allowing remote attackers to trigger arbitrary code execution through maliciously crafted media files.

Technical Details:

Exploit Mechanism: Malformed H.264/H.265 headers cause memory corruption during video parsing.
Impact: An attacker can create a malicious video file that, when played on an unpatched device, hijacks system memory.

Pseudocode Example:

1// Pseudocode illustrating a simplified memory overwrite pattern
2char *videoBuffer = allocate_video_buffer();
3if (malicious_header_detected(videoBuffer)) {
4    // Overwrite adjacent memory regions to inject shellcode
5    overwrite_memory(videoBuffer + OFFSET, shellcode, sizeof(shellcode));
6    execute_shellcode();
7}
8
9

Mitigation Recommendations:

Patch: Upgrade to iOS/macOS versions that address CVE-2025-24085.
Defenses: Employ strict file-type validation and sandbox media parsing processes.

2. Microsoft Word RTF Remote Code Execution (CVE-2025-21297)

Overview:
A vulnerability in Microsoft Word’s RTF parser allows a heap buffer overflow when handling crafted RTF files. Successful exploitation can yield remote code execution.

Technical Details:

Exploit Mechanism: Maliciously embedded fonts or malformed data in an RTF file trigger memory corruption in the wwlib.dll component.
Impact: Attackers may send phishing emails with a weaponized document that, when opened, installs malware.

Code Snippet (Conceptual):

1# Example pseudocode of triggering a heap overflow in an RTF parser
2def craft_malicious_rtf():
3    header = "{" + r"\rtf1"
4    payload = "A" * 1024  # Filler to overflow the buffer
5    exploit = header + payload + "}"
6    return exploit
7
8malicious_doc = craft_malicious_rtf()
9# The file is then delivered via email attachment for exploitation.
10
11

Mitigation Recommendations:

Patch: Apply the latest Microsoft updates (e.g., KB5034447).
User Training: Warn users against opening untrusted RTF documents.

3. Linux Kernel eBPF Privilege Escalation (CVE-2025-21362)

Overview:
A flaw in the eBPF verifier’s just-in-time (JIT) compiler permits crafted eBPF programs to escalate privileges on Linux systems.

Technical Details:

Exploit Mechanism: A type confusion vulnerability allows malicious eBPF bytecode to misrepresent pointer types, corrupting kernel memory.
Impact: Local attackers with limited access can escalate privileges to root.

Pseudocode Example:

1// Pseudocode representation of eBPF type confusion
2struct ebpf_prog *prog = load_eBPF_program(malicious_code);
3if (verify_eBPF(prog) == PASSED) {
4    // Exploit misinterpreted pointer types to gain root privileges
5    escalate_privileges(prog);
6}
7
8

Mitigation Recommendations:

Patch: Upgrade to kernel version 6.6.1 or later.
Configuration: Disable unprivileged eBPF execution via sysctl settings.

4. Windows NTLMv2 Hash Disclosure (CVE-2025-21377)

Overview:
A zero-day vulnerability in Windows can expose NTLMv2 hashes, enabling attackers to impersonate users with minimal interaction.

Technical Details:

Exploit Mechanism: Through manipulation of file inputs and authentication flows, attackers trick the system into disclosing hash values.
Impact: Once obtained, these hashes can be used in “pass-the-hash” attacks to move laterally across the network.

Mitigation Recommendations:

Patch: Apply Microsoft’s security updates immediately.
Defenses: Enforce multi-factor authentication and network segmentation.

5. Windows LDAP Remote Code Execution (CVE-2025-21376)

Overview:
A critical vulnerability in Windows Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code.

Technical Details:

Exploit Mechanism: A carefully crafted LDAP request exploits a buffer overflow condition in the LDAP service’s request handler.
Impact: Attackers can cause a buffer overflow that leads to remote code execution, compromising Active Directory environments.

Mitigation Recommendations:

Patch: Deploy Microsoft’s patch for CVE-2025-21376 promptly.
Network Controls: Restrict RPC traffic from untrusted networks.

6. Ivanti Connect Secure Zero-Day (CVE-2025-0282)

Overview:
This exploit affects Ivanti Connect Secure products, enabling unauthenticated remote code execution via a stack-based buffer overflow.

Technical Details:

Exploit Mechanism: Attackers craft specific inputs that overflow the appliance’s memory buffer, leading to complete control over the device.
Impact: With widespread deployment of Ivanti products, this zero-day could allow attackers to breach enterprise networks via compromised secure gateways.

Mitigation Recommendations:

Patch: Update to the latest Ivanti Connect Secure version (e.g., 22.7R2.5).
Detection: Use vendor-supplied integrity checker tools to detect compromise.

7. IoT Device Zero-Day Exploit: Smart Camera Firmware Vulnerability

Overview:
A hypothetical zero-day affecting popular smart home cameras, where a buffer overflow in the HTTP API leads to remote command execution.

Technical Details:

Exploit Mechanism: Attackers send specially crafted HTTP requests that overflow the device’s buffer and inject shellcode.
Impact: Once exploited, the attacker gains access to the camera and potentially pivots into the home network.

Pseudocode Example:

1# Pseudocode for an HTTP buffer overflow exploit
2payload = b"A" * OFFSET + b"\x90" * NOP_SLED + shellcode
3http_request = b"GET /vulnerable_endpoint?data=" + payload + b" HTTP/1.1\r\n\r\n"
4send_request(ip_address, http_request)
5
6

Mitigation Recommendations:

Patch: Ensure device firmware is updated regularly.
Segmentation: Isolate IoT devices from critical network assets.

8. Cloud Container Zero-Day: Kubernetes Runtime Exploit

Overview:
A zero-day vulnerability in a container runtime (affecting Kubernetes clusters) that allows an attacker to escape container isolation and escalate privileges.

Technical Details:

Exploit Mechanism: Exploiting a misconfigured container runtime, an attacker can inject malicious code into the host operating system.
Impact: This can lead to full control over the containerized environment and potentially the underlying host.

Conceptual YAML Exploit Snippet:

1apiVersion: v1
2kind: Pod
3metadata:
4  name: exploit-pod
5spec:
6  containers:
7  - name: attacker
8    image: malicious/image
9    securityContext:
10      privileged: true
11      runAsUser: 0
12
13

Mitigation Recommendations:

Patch: Apply vendor patches to the container runtime immediately.
Security Tools: Use runtime security and anomaly detection tools to monitor container behavior.

9. AI-Driven Zero-Day Exploit: Dynamic Payload Generation

Overview:
In a new frontier, attackers are using generative AI to dynamically craft zero-day exploits on the fly. These AI-powered methods adapt to defenses in real time, generating novel payloads that bypass signature-based detection.

Technical Details:

Exploit Mechanism: By using adversarial machine learning techniques, threat actors input system-specific parameters into an AI model, which then generates a tailored exploit.
Impact: Such dynamic payloads can rapidly change and evolve, making them exceedingly difficult to block with traditional defenses.

Mitigation Recommendations:

Defenses: Employ AI-driven behavioral analytics and anomaly detection to identify unusual activity.
Collaboration: Share threat intelligence among cybersecurity communities to stay ahead of rapidly evolving AI-generated exploits.

10. Industrial Control Systems Zero-Day: Multi-Stage APT Exploit

Overview:
A sophisticated zero-day exploit targeting industrial control systems (ICS), reminiscent of past campaigns like Stuxnet. This multi-stage attack uses a chain of zero-day vulnerabilities to penetrate critical infrastructure networks.

Technical Details:

Exploit Mechanism: Initial compromise occurs via a zero-day in peripheral software, followed by lateral movement and privilege escalation to gain control over ICS devices.
Impact: Disruption of production lines, data theft, and potential physical damage to critical infrastructure.

Mitigation Recommendations:

Defenses: Implement strict network segmentation and continuous monitoring of ICS environments.
Response: Develop and regularly test incident response plans specific to industrial networks.

Conclusion

Zero-day exploits remain one of the most challenging aspects of modern cybersecurity. As we’ve seen, each of these top 10 exploits—ranging from vulnerabilities in widely used consumer devices to complex multi-stage attacks against critical infrastructure—requires a blend of proactive defense, rigorous patch management, and continuous threat intelligence.

For hackers and security professionals alike, staying informed about these evolving threats is crucial. Whether you’re testing your own systems, developing mitigation strategies, or training your teams, understanding the technical details and response mechanisms of these zero-day exploits will give you a significant edge in the battle for cyber dominance.

Remember: In a landscape where attackers are increasingly leveraging AI and sophisticated multi-vector attacks, a layered, proactive approach is not optional—it’s essential.

Stay safe, stay vigilant, and keep pushing the boundaries of security.

Written by Kathan, Cybersecurity Researcher & Founder of BugBase
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FAQs

Q1: What exactly is a zero-day vulnerability, and why is it so critical?
A: A zero-day vulnerability is a security flaw unknown to the vendor or the public—meaning there is no patch available when it’s discovered. Because attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities before defenses are updated, they pose significant risks, leading to unauthorized access, data breaches, and system compromise. The “zero-day” term emphasizes that developers have had zero days to fix the issue before it can be weaponized.

Q2: How do zero-day exploits typically work?
A: Zero-day exploits take advantage of these unpatched vulnerabilities by using techniques like buffer overflows, type confusion, or use-after-free conditions. For instance, an attacker might craft a malicious media file that triggers a memory corruption in a video parser or send a specially formatted RTF file to cause a heap buffer overflow in Microsoft Word. In many cases, these exploits bypass signature-based detection by leveraging unknown attack vectors.

Q3: What mitigation strategies can organizations implement to defend against zero-day attacks?
A: Organizations should adopt a proactive, layered defense approach. Key measures include:

Prompt Patching & Virtual Patching: Rapidly applying vendor updates as soon as they’re available, or using virtual patching as a temporary shield.
Zero Trust Segmentation: Restricting lateral movement within networks by enforcing strict authentication and isolating critical assets.
Advanced Threat Detection: Employing AI-driven behavioral analytics and continuous monitoring tools to detect anomalies even when a signature isn’t available.
Regular Penetration Testing: Simulating attacks to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities before they are exploited.

Q4: How are attackers using AI to enhance zero-day exploits in 2025?
A: In the evolving threat landscape, cybercriminals are leveraging AI to automatically generate and tailor exploit payloads in real time. AI-driven models can analyze system-specific parameters to produce dynamic, adaptive exploits that bypass traditional defenses. This rapid, automated approach makes it challenging for signature-based security tools to detect these threats, hence emphasizing the need for AI-powered behavioral analysis on the defensive side.

Q5: What should IT service providers do if a zero-day vulnerability is found in critical infrastructure like industrial control systems?
A: Providers must implement strict network segmentation and continuous monitoring to limit lateral movement and damage. They should:

Deploy Immediate Mitigations: Use virtual patching or compensating controls if an official patch isn’t available.
Conduct Regular Security Audits and Penetration Tests: Identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively.
Establish an Incident Response Plan: Ensure the team is prepared to isolate compromised systems quickly and minimize operational disruption.
Collaborate on Threat Intelligence: Share findings and work with vendors and the broader security community to update defenses as new insights emerge.