CVE-2025-33073
Microsoft Windows SMB Client Improper Access Control Vulnerability
Microsoft Windows
Improper access control in Windows SMB allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
Ransomware groups exploiting CVE-2025-33073
The Gentlemen is a RaaS group that emerged in July–August 2025, rapidly claiming over 320 victims across 17+ countries by offering affiliates a 90% revenue share, deploying a Go-based locker against Windows, Linux, NAS, and BSD systems; a compromised C2 server
Exploitation is attributed to these groups across their recorded activity. It does not follow that every organisation they listed was reached through CVE-2025-33073 — the source data does not record an entry point per incident.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 20 October 2025. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 10 November 2025.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 80.5%, which is higher than 99.6% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Recent listings by these groups
Disclosures from the groups above, newest first.
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2025-33073 being exploited by ransomware groups?
Yes. CVE-2025-33073 is recorded as exploited by Thegentlemen. Between them these groups account for 840 victim disclosures in this database.
What does CVE-2025-33073 affect?
CVE-2025-33073 affects Microsoft Windows. Improper access control in Windows SMB allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
How severe is CVE-2025-33073?
CVE-2025-33073 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 80.5%, higher than 99.6% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 10 November 2025.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2025-33073?
Apply the vendor patch for Microsoft Windows as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.