title: Potential Exploitation of RCE Vulnerability CVE-2025-33053
id: abe06362-a5b9-4371-8724-ebd00cd48a04
related:
    - id: 9a2d8b3e-f5a1-4c68-9e21-7d9e1cf8a123
      type: similar
    - id: 04fc4b22-91a6-495a-879d-0144fec5ec03
      type: similar
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects potential exploitation of remote code execution vulnerability CVE-2025-33053
    which involves unauthorized code execution via WebDAV through external control of file names or paths.
    The exploit abuses legitimate utilities like iediagcmd.exe or CustomShellHost.exe  by manipulating
    their working directories to point to attacker-controlled WebDAV servers, causing them to execute
    malicious executables (like route.exe) from the WebDAV path instead of legitimate system binaries
    through Process.Start() search order manipulation.
references:
    - https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/en-US/vulnerability/CVE-2025-33053
    - https://research.checkpoint.com/2025/stealth-falcon-zero-day/
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-06-13
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1105
    - detection.emerging-threats
    - cve.2025-33053
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_parent:
        ParentImage:
            - 'C:\Program Files\internet explorer\iediagcmd.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\CustomShellHost.exe'
    selection_child_current_dir:
        - CurrentDirectory|startswith: '\\\\'
        - CurrentDirectory|contains: '\DavWWWRoot\'
        - Image|contains: '\DavWWWRoot\'
        - Image|startswith: '\\\\'
    selection_child_img:
        Image|endswith:
            - '\route.exe'
            - '\netsh.exe'
            - '\makecab.exe'
            - '\dxdiag.exe'
            - '\ipconfig.exe'
            - '\explorer.exe'
    filter_main_system:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high