# CVE-2025-32709: Microsoft Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Use-After-Free Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-32709-microsoft-windows-ancillary-function-driver-for-winsock-use-after  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2025-05-13. Updated: 2026-05-09  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2025-32709 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2025-05-13

A use-after-free vulnerability in the Microsoft Windows Ancillary Function Driver (AFD) for WinSock allows a locally authenticated attacker to escalate privileges to Administrator. The flaw was also described as a null pointer dereference in some documentation updates.

Technologies: [Microsoft Windows](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2025-32709 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2025-32709 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 13 May 2025. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2025-32709?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 13 May 2025.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows 10 up to (excluding) 10.0.19045.5854; Microsoft Windows 11 up to (excluding) 10.0.26100.4061; Microsoft Windows Server 2012 All; Microsoft Windows Server 2016 up to (excluding) 10.0.14393.8066; and 3 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2025-32709?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2025-32709 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2025-32709?** Check whether you run Microsoft Windows. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows 10 up to (excluding) 10.0.19045.5854
- Microsoft Windows 11 up to (excluding) 10.0.26100.4061
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 All
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016 up to (excluding) 10.0.14393.8066
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019 up to (excluding) 10.0.17763.7314
- Microsoft Windows Server 2022 up to (excluding) 10.0.20348.3692
- Microsoft Windows Server 2025 up to (excluding) 10.0.26100.4061

## Timeline

- 2025-05-13: disclosed
- 2025-05-13: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2025-05-13: exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild at time of publication.

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- [Microsoft Windows USM Communication Manager null pointer dereference](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97000-null-pointer-dereference-in-windows-usm-communication-manager)
- [Microsoft Windows Winsock use after free privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96994-use-after-free-in-winsock-allows-an-authorized-attacker-to)