Microsoft Azure Vulnerabilities Patched: Key Details for Security Teams

Microsoft has recently addressed several critical vulnerabilities in its Azure platform, as reported by the Dutch National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). These vulnerabilities, if exploited, could allow attackers to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code within affected Azure services. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the vulnerabilities, their impact, and actionable steps for security teams to mitigate risks.

TL;DR: Key Takeaways

• Vulnerabilities Patched: Microsoft has resolved multiple vulnerabilities in Azure services, including Azure PromptFlow, Azure Arc, Azure CLI, and Azure Agent Installer.
• Impact: Exploitation could lead to privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution.
• CVSS Scores: Ranging from 6.5 to 8.4, indicating moderate to high severity.
• Affected Services: Azure PromptFlow, Azure Arc, Azure CLI, and Azure Agent Installer.
• Remediation: Apply the latest updates provided by Microsoft.

High-Level Overview for CISOs

The NCSC advisory (NCSC-2025-0081) highlights vulnerabilities in several Azure services that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain elevated privileges or execute arbitrary code. These vulnerabilities pose a significant risk to organizations relying on Azure for cloud infrastructure, as they could lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or system compromise. Microsoft has released updates to address these issues, and organizations are strongly advised to apply them promptly.

Technical Breakdown of the Vulnerabilities

Affected Services and CVEs

The vulnerabilities span multiple Azure services, each with its own set of CVEs and impacts:

Service	CVE-ID	CVSS Score	Impact
Azure PromptFlow	CVE-2025-24986	6.5	Arbitrary code execution
Azure Arc	CVE-2025-26627	7.0	Privilege escalation
Azure CLI	CVE-2025-24049	8.4	Privilege escalation
Azure Agent Installer	CVE-2025-21199	6.7	Privilege escalation

Vulnerability Details

1. Azure PromptFlow (CVE-2025-24986)
   This vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the vulnerable application. With a CVSS score of 6.5, it is considered moderately severe.
2. Azure Arc (CVE-2025-26627)
   A privilege escalation flaw that could allow an attacker to gain elevated access to system resources. The CVSS score of 7.0 indicates a high risk.
3. Azure CLI (CVE-2025-24049)
   This vulnerability, with a CVSS score of 8.4, is the most severe of the bunch. It enables an attacker to escalate privileges, potentially gaining full control over the affected system.
4. Azure Agent Installer (CVE-2025-21199)
   Another privilege escalation vulnerability, scoring 6.7 on the CVSS scale, which could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems.

Relevance to Security Teams

For Red Teams, these vulnerabilities present opportunities to test privilege escalation and code execution scenarios in Azure environments. For Blue Teams and SOC Analysts, the focus should be on identifying and mitigating these vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. System administrators must ensure that all Azure services are updated to the latest versions to prevent potential breaches.

Remediation Steps

1. Apply Updates: Microsoft has released patches for all affected services. Ensure that your Azure environment is updated to the latest versions.
2. Monitor Logs: Look for unusual activity in Azure logs, particularly privilege escalation attempts or unauthorized code execution.
3. Restrict Access: Limit access to Azure services to only those users who require it, and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA).
4. Conduct Vulnerability Scans: Use tools like Azure Security Center to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in your environment.

Proof of Concept (PoC) Script

Below is a Python script to check if your Azure environment is vulnerable to CVE-2025-24049 (Azure CLI):

import subprocess

def check_azure_cli_version():
    try:
        result = subprocess.run(["az", "--version"], capture_output=True, text=True)
        if "2.69.0" in result.stdout:
            print("Vulnerable version detected. Update Azure CLI immediately.")
        else:
            print("Your Azure CLI version is up to date.")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error checking Azure CLI version: {e}")

check_azure_cli_version()

Conclusion

The vulnerabilities patched in Microsoft Azure highlight the importance of maintaining up-to-date cloud infrastructure. Security teams should prioritize applying these updates and monitoring their environments for signs of exploitation. By staying proactive, organizations can mitigate the risks posed by these vulnerabilities and ensure the security of their Azure deployments.

References

• NCSC Advisories. NCSC. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
• aboutict. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
• Cybersecurityalert. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
• BIT Force – Computer Solutions. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
• A51. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
• Edwin Geboers on LinkedIn. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
• NCSC Advisories. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
• aboutict. Retrieved 2025-03-11.