When AI Meets Attackers: Why December’s Updates Demand a Developer-Focused Defense!
Microsoft’s December 2025 Patch Tuesday, the final release of the year delivers 57 security fixes, including 2 Critical and 53 Important vulnerabilities spanning Windows, Office, Azure, Exchange, and emerging AI tools like GitHub Copilot.
Top 5 Vulnerabilities You Need to Know – December 2025 Patch Tuesday
- CVE-2025-64671 – GitHub Copilot for JetBrains Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
An attacker could execute arbitrary code via malicious Copilot suggestions in JetBrains IDEs.
- Severity: Important | CVSS Score: 8.4
- Attack Vector: Network (AV:N) | Privileges Required: None (PR:N)
- User Interaction: Required (UI:R) | Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L)
Publicly disclosed and affects every developer using GitHub Copilot in JetBrains products (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, etc.). Immediate patching of the Copilot extension is essential across the entire development estate.
- CVE-2025-62221 – Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
- Severity: Important | CVSS Score: 7.8
- Attack Vector: Local (AV:L) | Privileges Required: Low (PR:L)
- User Interaction: None (UI:N) | Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L)
Marked as Exploitation Detected. Prioritise all Windows 11 and Server systems using OneDrive/Cloud Files integration (default on most endpoints).
- CVE-2025-62554 & CVE-2025-62557 – Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities
An attacker could execute arbitrary code by convincing a user to open a malicious Office document.
- Severity: Critical | CVSS Score: 8.4 (both)
- Attack Vector: Local (AV:L) | Privileges Required: None (PR:N)
- User Interaction: Required (UI:R) | Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L)
Two Critical rated Office RCEs in the same release. High likelihood of weaponisation in phishing campaigns. Deploy the Office security updates to all desktops and Citrix/RDS environments.
- CVE-2025-62549 & CVE-2025-64678 – Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities
An unauthenticated attacker could send specially crafted packets to RRAS to execute arbitrary code.
- Severity: Important | CVSS Scores: 8.8 & 8.0
- Attack Vector: Network (AV:N) | Privileges Required: Low/None
- User Interaction: None (UI:N) | Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L)
Network reachable RCEs affecting any server with RRAS, DirectAccess, or legacy VPN roles enabled. Immediate priority for perimeter and VPN servers.
- CVE-2025-62550 – Azure Monitor Agent Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
An attacker with access to the agent configuration could execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.
- Severity: Important | CVSS Score: 8.8
- Attack Vector: Adjacent (AV:A) | Privileges Required: Low (PR:L)
- User Interaction: None (UI:N) | Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L)
Affects every Windows and Linux endpoint running Azure Monitor Agent / AMA (Log Analytics agent successor). If compromised, attackers gain instant SYSTEM access on those monitored hosts.
Jump Point Vulnerabilities: Risks for Lateral Movement
These vulnerabilities have Scope = Changed, meaning they can cross trust or privilege boundaries, enabling lateral movement, privilege escalation, or broader system impact.
- CVE-2025-62463 (DirectX Graphics Kernel Denial of Service Vulnerability). Important; CVSS 6.5; Exploitation Less Likely.
- CVE-2025-62465 (DirectX Graphics Kernel Denial of Service Vulnerability). Important; CVSS 6.5; Exploitation Less Likely.
- CVE-2025-62567 (Windows Hyper-V Denial of Service Vulnerability). Important; CVSS 5.3; Exploitation Unlikely.
Each of these exhibit’s behaviour that can extend control beyond the originally compromised component, particularly through graphics rendering, document parsing, or local privilege elevation chains.
Key Recommendations:
- Prioritise AI and Driver Flaws: Patch GitHub Copilot extensions and Windows Cloud Files drivers immediately to block both developer-targeted RCE and local privilege escalation vectors.
- Leverage Endpoint Resilience: Absolute Secure Endpoint enables rapid rehydration to a golden image, restoring thousands of devices in hours rather than days, through firmware-embedded persistence.
- Monitor Patch Compliance: Maintain continuous visibility of deployment success, detect devices lagging SLA, and block untrusted content to minimise lateral movement risk.
While timely patching remains essential, resilience is the ultimate safeguard. The ability to rehydrate endpoints to a golden image at scale provides recovery assurance should a patch or attack destabilise operations.
See the Dec, 2025 Patch Tuesday Chart (PDF).
Patch Smart. Happy Patching!
