Microsoft Fixes Critical Vulnerability in Azure Ai Face Service

Microsoft Fixes Critical Vulnerability in Azure Ai Face Service

Microsoft Fixes Critical Vulnerability in Azure Ai Face Service

Microsoft has addressed two critical security vulnerabilities: one in Azure AI Face Service (CVE-2025-21415, CVSS 9.9) and another in Microsoft Account (CVE-2025-21396, CVSS 7.5), both of which could enable privilege escalation. The Azure AI Face Service flaw resulted from an authentication bypass, while the Microsoft Account vulnerability was due to missing authorization controls. Although proof-of-concept exploit exists for the Azure AI Face Service issue, Microsoft has fully mitigated both vulnerabilities, requiring no action from customers. This reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to security and proactive risk management.

Technical Description

Azure AI Face is a cloud-based facial recognition service from Microsoft that enables face detection, recognition and analysis in applications. It can identify faces, verify identities and analyze facial attributes like age and emotions. Businesses use it for security, authentication and personalized experiences while adhering to ethical AI guidelines.

Microsoft fixed two critical security vulnerabilities in Azure AI Face Service and Microsoft Account, both of which could have led to privilege escalation under certain conditions. If exploited, these flaws could have allowed attackers to gain elevated access, posing significant security risks.

The first vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-21396, is an Elevation of Privilege issue in Microsoft Account with a CVSS score of 7.5. It stemmed from missing authorization controls, potentially allowing an unauthorized attacker to escalate privileges over a network. Microsoft acknowledged security researcher Sugobet for discovering the flaw.
The other one, more severe vulnerability tracked as CVE-2025-21415, in Azure AI Face Service, rated CVSS 9.9. The flaw resulted from an authentication bypass via spoofing, enabling an authorized attacker to escalate privileges over a network. An anonymous researcher reported the issue, and Microsoft confirmed the existence of a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit, proving its exploitability. Given its severity, the company swiftly addressed the risk and fully mitigated the vulnerability. Microsoft assured users that no further action is required, reinforcing its commitment to security and proactive threat management.

These advisories reflect Microsoft’s commitment to transparency by issuing CVEs for critical cloud service vulnerabilities, even when no immediate customer action is required. As the industry shifts toward cloud-based services, transparency in addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities is essential, Microsoft stated in June 2024.

By proactively addressing such vulnerabilities, Microsoft aims to foster a collaborative security ecosystem, ensuring the resilience of cloud-based services against evolving cyber threats.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the vulnerabilities in Azure AI Face Service and Microsoft Account posed significant risks by enabling privilege escalation and potential data breaches. Although Microsoft has completely addressed these flaws, it remains essential for organizations to continue prioritizing security best practices. Staying proactive in identifying and addressing vulnerabilities will help prevent future security incidents and protect sensitive data and systems. Maintaining vigilance is essential to safeguarding against evolving cyber threats.

Impact

Exploiting these vulnerabilities could have significant consequences for organizations using Azure AI Face Service and Microsoft Account. Attackers gaining elevated privileges could compromise sensitive user data, manipulate authentication processes, or escalate access within corporate networks. This might result in data breaches, unauthorized access to critical systems, and potential financial or reputational damage. While Microsoft has mitigated these issues, organizations must remain vigilant and adhere to security best practices to safeguard against future risks.

IOC and Context Details
Table
Topics Details
Tactic Name NA
Technique Name NA
Sub Technique Name NA
Attack Type Vulnerability
Targeted Applications Generic, Microsoft Azure
Region Impacted Global
Industry Impacted All
IOC’s NA
CVE CVE-2025-21415, CVE-2025-21396
 
Topics
Details
  • Tactic Name
  • Technique Name
  • Sub Technique Name
  • Attack Type
  • Targeted Applications
  • Region Impacted
  • Industry Impacted
  • IOC’s
  • CVE
  • NA
  • NA
  • NA
  • Vulnerability
  • Generic, Microsoft Azure
  • Global
  • All
  • NA
  • CVE-2025-21415, CVE-2025-21396
Recommended Actions
  1. Monitor and Audit Access Logs – Regularly review authentication and access logs for any unusual activity in Azure AI Face Service and Microsoft Account.
  2. Enforce Strong Authentication – Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to minimize the risk of unauthorized access, even in cases of privilege escalation.
  3. Stay Updated on Security Advisories – Follow Microsoft’s security bulletins and promptly apply recommended patches and mitigations.
  4. Adopt a Zero Trust Approach – Enforce least privilege access and continuously verify user identity and device security.
  5. Conduct Routine Security Assessments – Perform penetration testing and vulnerability scans to proactively identify and remediate security gaps in cloud environments.
References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/

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