Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-25480 is a high-severity flaw in Realtek card reader Windows drivers. A local user could potentially abuse affected driver versions to write outside an expected kernel memory buffer, risking full system compromise. It is not listed in CISA KEV, and the provided sources do not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority endpoint driver update, especially for laptops and workstations with Realtek card readers. It is less urgent than an internet-facing remote exploit, but important because it can turn limited local access into full system control.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-787 out-of-bounds write in Realtek RtsPer.sys before 10.0.22000.21355 and RtsUer.sys before 10.0.22000.31274. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8: local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Windows endpoints or systems with Realtek PCIe Card Reader or USB Card Reader drivers installed. The source bundle does not identify specific OEM device models, operating system builds, or distribution channels beyond the affected driver filenames and versions.
Exploitation context
Exploitation requires local low-privileged access. Public technical researcher material is referenced, but the source bundle and KEV status do not establish active exploitation. The main business risk is privilege escalation after an attacker already has code execution or access on an affected endpoint.
Researcher notes
The CVE record and Realtek advisory identify an out-of-bounds kernel write beyond the IRP SystemBuffer. Public researcher references exist, including a blog and gist. Avoid assuming exploit maturity or affected OEM models beyond the cited sources. Validate using exact driver filenames and version thresholds.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory systems for RtsPer.sys and RtsUer.sys driver versions.
- Update RtsPer.sys to 10.0.22000.21355 or later.
- Update RtsUer.sys to 10.0.22000.31274 or later.
- Check Realtek and OEM guidance for approved driver packages.
- Prioritize endpoints where local compromise would create high business impact.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether RtsPer.sys or RtsUer.sys is present on Windows endpoints.
- Compare installed driver versions against the fixed versions.
- Verify updates come from Realtek, OEM, or trusted enterprise channels.
- Review vulnerability scan results for CVE-2022-25480 coverage.
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for suspicious local privilege-escalation activity.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-787: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-25480 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.realtek.com/images/safe-report/Realtek_RtsPer_RtsUer_Security_Advisory_Report.pdfCVE reference, mitre
- https://gist.github.com/zwclose/feb16f1424779a61cb1d9f6d5681408aCVE reference, mitre
- https://zwclose.github.io/2024/10/14/rtsper1.htmlCVE reference, mitre
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.