Microsoft September 2025 Patch Tuesday: 81 Flaws Fixed, 8 Rated Critical
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Microsoft September 2025 Patch Tuesday brings fixes for 81 security flaws across Windows, Office, Azure, and SQL Server. Eight of these are marked critical, including dangerous remote code execution and privilege escalation bugs. Patch Tuesday updates are designed to close gaps before attackers exploit them, but history shows cybercriminals move fast once vulnerabilities are disclosed. This makes it vital for organizations to review and deploy these updates quickly to prevent potential breaches.
TL;DR
Microsoft’s September 2025 Patch Tuesday addresses 81 vulnerabilities across Windows, Office, Azure, and SQL Server. Eight are rated critical, including flaws in Windows Graphics, Office, Hyper-V, and NTLM. Businesses should prioritize patching these immediately to reduce the risk of remote code execution and privilege escalation.
Why This Update Matters
Patch Tuesday is Microsoft’s long-standing way of releasing security fixes in a predictable cycle. For enterprises, this cycle provides structure, but it also creates a race. As soon as details go public, attackers start working on exploits. This month’s update is heavy on Remote Code Execution (RCE) and Elevation of Privilege (EoP) vulnerabilities, both of which can be devastating if left unpatched.
Breakdown of the September 2025 Patches
| Category | Number of Vulnerabilities | Examples of Impact |
| Total Fixed | 81 | Across Windows, Office, Azure, SQL Server |
| Critical | 8 | Remote Code Execution, Elevation of Privilege |
| Important | 73 | Information Disclosure, Security Feature Bypass, Denial of Service |
| Remote Code Execution (RCE) | 22 | Exploits through crafted files, graphics kernel flaws |
| Elevation of Privilege (EoP) | 38 | NTLM escalation, Azure service privilege bugs |
The Critical Fixes You Can’t Ignore
| Vulnerability | CVE ID(s) | Impact | Notes |
| Windows Graphics Kernel | CVE-2025-55226, CVE-2025-55236, CVE-2025-55228 | Remote Code Execution | Race condition bugs allowing attackers to execute code. |
| Microsoft Office | CVE-2025-54910 | Local Code Execution | Heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Office. |
| Hyper-V | CVE-2025-55224 | Local Code Execution | Race condition in virtualization platform. |
| NTLM | CVE-2025-54918 | Elevation of Privilege | Network-level flaw enabling privilege escalation. |
Other Noteworthy Fixes
| Vulnerability | CVE ID(s) | Impact | Notes |
| Microsoft SharePoint | CVE-2025-54897 | Remote Code Execution | Triggered by deserialization of untrusted data. |
| Microsoft Excel | CVE-2025-54896 – 54904 | Remote Code Execution | Crafted Excel files could trigger execution. |
| Azure Services (Arc, Connected Machine Agent) | Multiple | Elevation of Privilege | Privilege escalation issues patched across Azure services. |
Key Takeaways
- 81 vulnerabilities patched, 8 critical.
- Critical flaws affect Windows Graphics, Office, Hyper-V, and NTLM.
- Remote Code Execution and privilege escalation dominate this release.
- Rapid patching is essential to reduce breach risk.
The Sum Up
Microsoft’s September 2025 Patch Tuesday highlights the scale of ongoing threats with 81 vulnerabilities fixed, including eight rated critical. Remote Code Execution and privilege escalation flaws dominate this release, putting both enterprises and individual users at risk if left unpatched. The message is simple: apply these updates now, focus on critical systems first, and keep monitoring for possible exploitation attempts.
Quick FAQs
Q1. What is Microsoft September 2025 Patch Tuesday?
It’s Microsoft’s monthly security update release. The September 2025 edition fixes 81 vulnerabilities across Windows, Office, Azure, and SQL Server, including 8 critical flaws.
Q2. How many vulnerabilities were patched in September 2025 Patch Tuesday?
A total of 81 vulnerabilities were patched, with 8 rated critical and 73 marked important.
Q3. Which vulnerabilities are the most critical in September 2025 Patch Tuesday?
The most critical flaws affect Windows Graphics Kernel, Microsoft Office, Hyper-V, and NTLM. They allow remote code execution or privilege escalation.
Q4. Why is Patch Tuesday important for businesses?
It helps businesses close security gaps before attackers exploit them. Failing to apply updates quickly can leave systems exposed to cyberattacks.
Q5. What should security teams prioritize this month?
Teams should immediately patch critical flaws, monitor high-risk systems like Windows servers and Office endpoints, and stay alert for exploitation attempts
