Overview
CVE-2025-11156 is a security vulnerability identified in the Netskope agent (NS Client) on Windows systems. A local attacker with Administrator privileges could exploit this vulnerability to cause a Denial-of-Service (DoS) condition. Successful exploitation results in a system crash, commonly known as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).
Technical Details
The vulnerability arises from the improper loading of the Netskope driver as a generic kernel service. An authenticated user with Administrator privileges can trigger this flaw, leading to a system crash. The root cause lies in insufficient validation or handling within the driver when loaded in a specific context, allowing for potentially unsafe operations that destabilize the operating system.
CVSS Analysis
At the time of writing, a CVSS score has not been assigned to CVE-2025-11156. This is likely due to ongoing analysis or the recent discovery of the vulnerability. The impact, however, is clearly high, as it leads to a system-wide Denial-of-Service.
A future CVSS score will need to consider the attack complexity, the required privileges (Administrator), and the resulting impact (Complete system crash). Given the need for administrator privileges, the attack vector is local, but the impact is severe.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-11156 can have significant consequences:
- Denial of Service (DoS): The primary impact is a system crash, rendering the affected machine unusable until it is rebooted.
- Data Loss: Unsaved data may be lost due to the abrupt system termination.
- Operational Disruption: Critical business processes reliant on the affected machine will be interrupted.
- Potential for Further Exploitation: Although the current description focuses on DoS, further analysis might reveal potential for escalated privileges or other malicious activities if the exploited kernel service flaw is more deeply investigated.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
The recommended course of action is to apply the patch or update provided by Netskope. Please refer to the official Netskope security advisory for the specific version and instructions.
- Apply the Netskope Update: Upgrade the Netskope agent (NS Client) to the latest version as soon as it becomes available.
- Monitor Netskope Advisories: Stay informed about any further updates or guidance from Netskope regarding this vulnerability.
- Restrict Administrator Access: Limit the number of users with Administrator privileges on Windows systems to minimize the potential attack surface.
- Implement Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Use EDR solutions to detect and prevent potentially malicious activity on endpoints, including attempts to exploit this vulnerability.