Windows 11 and Red Hat Linux: an alert from the first day of Pwn2Own

On the first day of the Pwn2Own Berlin 2025 competition, a series of critical vulnerabilities were successfully exploited, highlighting the fragility of systems once considered secure, including Windows 11 and Red Hat Linux. With a total of $260,000 awarded to cybersecurity researchers, this event underscores the importance of continuously evaluating enterprise software and infrastructure. In a flash, complex exploits compromised key systems, exposing previously undiscovered vulnerabilities. These demonstrations underscore the need for vendors like Microsoft and Red Hat to strengthen their security posture in the face of increasingly sophisticated attackers, while also reminding us that the security race must be ongoing to address new and evolving threats.

Discover how Windows 11 and Red Hat Linux can be compromised, the vulnerabilities they encounter, and best practices for securing your systems. Explore the implications of these threats and how to protect your data from attacks. Vulnerabilities Exploited at Pwn2Own 2025: A Spotlight on the Weakness of Modern Software

The first day of Pwn2Own Berlin 2025 revealed a series of unprecedented vulnerabilities, redefining the risks associated with the daily use of software widely deployed in the professional world. Among them, the failure of Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Workstations was the first to fall, following the exploitation of an integer overflow, allowing local privilege escalation. Subsequently, researchers exploited complex use-after-free chains and information leaks to gain root access on Linux systems. Meanwhile, Windows 11 was once again targeted, notably through out-of-bounds write and type confusion vulnerabilities, allowing SYSTEM privileges to be obtained. This multiplicity of attacks underscores the extent to which the current state of enterprise software requires increased vigilance and regular updates to counter increasingly sophisticated exploits. Vulnerable Systems

Exploit Type

Exploited Vulnerability	Reward	Red Hat Enterprise Linux	Local Privilege Escalation
Integer Overflow	$20,000	Windows 11	Privilege Escalation
Out-of-bounds Write	Unspecified	Windows 11	Remote Control
Type Confusion	Unspecified	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp5drdh5920	Exploitation Techniques: How Hackers Exploit Software Complexity to Compromise Windows and Linux

Attackers use sophisticated methods to identify and exploit vulnerabilities, illustrating the technical complexity of modern software. Among these, integer overflow in Red Hat Linux demonstrates a strong grasp of memory management, while use-after-free and information leak chains demonstrate an ability to bypass traditional protections. On Windows 11, type confusion and out-of-bounds write exploit memory management flaws, often due to source code errors or details in user input processing.

Integer overflow:

allows an overflow in number processing, leading to privilege escalation.

Use-after-free: exploits freed memory usage to manipulate sensitive data.
Information leak: reveals memory details, facilitating the exploitation of more serious vulnerabilities.
Type confusion: induces incorrect data processing, leading to system takeover. Exploitation Technique
Objective Potential Impact

Integer Overflow	Privilege Escalation	Full Control
Use-after-free	Arbitrary Code Execution	System Compromise
Information Leakage	Preparing a More Serious Attack	Access to Sensitive Data
Type Confusion	Remote Control	Full System Control
Discover the implications of the Windows 11/Red Hat Linux compromise. Vulnerability analysis, solutions, and best practices for securing your systems in a hybrid environment.	Vendor Responses and the Race to Fix Exploits	In the wake of vulnerability disclosures, software vendors such as Microsoft and Red Hat are quickly implementing patches to limit the impact of exploits. On Windows 11, several critical flaws were patched in the weeks following Pwn2Own 2025, including those exploited during demonstrations. Red Hat, for its part, must accelerate its patching to secure its distributions against potential new attacks. Competition thus imposes a frenetic pace: developers have 90 days, in accordance with Pwn2Own rules, to deploy updates that correct bugs exploited live. These initiatives are vital to maintain user trust and prevent these vulnerabilities from being exploited by malicious actors in a more targeted manner. Vendor

Deployment Time

Recommended Actions

Microsoft	Out-of-bounds Write Vulnerabilities, Type Confusion	90 Days	Update Installation
Red Hat	Integer Overflow, Exploit Chains	90 Days	Immediate Patch Application
Relevance of Enterprise Software in the Face of Evolving Threats: The Security Challenge in a Hyperconnected World	The Pwn2Own 2025 competition highlights the need for businesses to review their security strategy and strengthen the resilience of their infrastructure. The vulnerabilities exploited in Windows 11 and Red Hat Linux illustrate that even software known for its robustness is vulnerable to high-level attacks. The race for security is becoming an absolute priority, particularly in a context where the integration of artificial intelligence, as shown in the dedicated category during this edition, introduces new complications. The proliferation of attack vectors, combined with the growing sophistication of exploits, requires us to rethink the prophylactic approach. Security can no longer be limited to one-off fixes, but must be integrated into an overall risk management strategy.	Major issues	Potential impact

Possible solutions

Exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities

Major disruption to operations	Regular updates, training	AI integration
Viralization of threats	Reinforced controls, advanced detections	Multiplication of attack vectors
Increased risks	Segmentation, security audits	learn how windows 11 and red hat linux can be compromised, the associated risks, and best practices for securing your data. Learn about possible vulnerabilities and solutions to protect your system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vg-uCQlVM8