CVE-2025-48799

Status: AnalyzedHigh (7.8)—

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

CVSS

Version: 3.1
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Base score: 7.8

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 1.16%
Percentile among all scored CVEs: 66
Score date: 10/5/2026

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

🎯 ATT&CK techniques

How this vulnerability is exploited and what the attacker gains, in MITRE ATT&CK terms.

ExploitationT1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalationprivilege escalation95 %

CWE-59 (link following) con AV:L/PR:L/UI:N permite escalada de privilegios local sin interacción. Windows Update Service vulnerable a symlink attacks para elevar a SYSTEM.

Inferred by our analysis agent from the official description, CVSS vector and CWE, and checked by a supervisor. May contain errors.

🛡️ ATT&CK mitigations that cover these techniques

Threat Intelligence Program Execution Prevention Application Isolation and Sandboxing Exploit Protection Update Software

Affected technologies (8)

Microsoft — Windows 10 1607 Microsoft — Windows 10 1809 Microsoft — Windows 10 21h2 Microsoft — Windows 10 22h2 Microsoft — Windows 11 22h2 Microsoft — Windows 11 23h2 Microsoft — Windows 11 24h2 Microsoft — Windows Server 2025

CWEs

CWE-59

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show

{
  "id": "CVE-2025-48799",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "ssvcV203": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "ssvcData": {
          "id": "CVE-2025-48799",
          "role": "CISA Coordinator",
          "options": [
            {
              "exploitation": "none"
            },
            {
              "automatable": "no"
            },
            {
              "technicalImpact": "total"
            }
          ],
          "version": "2.0.3",
          "timestamp": "2025-07-08T19:19:46.769327Z"
        }
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "secure@microsoft.com",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.8,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.9,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "secure@microsoft.com",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "product": "Windows 10 Version 1607",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "10.0.14393.0",
              "lessThan": "10.0.14393.8246",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "32-bit Systems",
            "x64-based Systems"
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "product": "Windows 10 Version 1809",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "10.0.17763.0",
              "lessThan": "10.0.17763.7558",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "32-bit Systems",
            "x64-based Systems"
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "product": "Windows 10 Version 21H2",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "10.0.19044.0",
              "lessThan": "10.0.19044.6093",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "32-bit Systems",
            "ARM64-based Systems",
            "x64-based Systems"
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "product": "Windows 10 Version 22H2",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "10.0.19045.0",
              "lessThan": "10.0.19045.6093",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "32-bit Systems",
            "ARM64-based Systems",
            "x64-based Systems"
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "product": "Windows 11 version 22H2",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "10.0.22621.0",
              "lessThan": "10.0.22621.5624",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "ARM64-based Systems",
            "x64-based Systems"
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "product": "Windows 11 version 22H3",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "10.0.22631.0",
              "lessThan": "10.0.22631.5624",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "ARM64-based Systems"
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "product": "Windows 11 Version 23H2",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "10.0.22631.0",
              "lessThan": "10.0.22631.5624",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "x64-based Systems"
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "product": "Windows 11 Version 24H2",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "10.0.26100.0",
              "lessThan": "10.0.26100.4652",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "ARM64-based Systems",
            "x64-based Systems"
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "product": "Windows Server 2025",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "10.0.26100.0",
              "lessThan": "10.0.26100.4652",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "x64-based Systems"
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "product": "Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "10.0.26100.0",
              "lessThan": "10.0.26100.4652",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ],
          "platforms": [
            "x64-based Systems"
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2025-07-08T17:15:42.720",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-48799",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "secure@microsoft.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-48799-detection-script-elevation-of-privilege-vulnerability-in-windows-update-service",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-48799-mitigation-script-elevation-of-privilege-vulnerability-in-windows-update-service",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit",
        "Mitigation",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "secure@microsoft.com",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-59"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "La resolución incorrecta de un vínculo antes del acceso a un archivo ('seguimiento de un vínculo') en Windows Update Service permite que un atacante autorizado eleve privilegios localmente."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T09:30:19.030",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "3CEAC32A-5246-4F6B-8DD5-E49F3BA621DA",
              "versionEndExcluding": "10.0.14393.8246"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "E0A0243D-52B4-49AE-B1AE-263640C492B0",
              "versionEndExcluding": "10.0.14393.8246"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "2062C268-282B-4E52-9F8C-876A2D483EAD",
              "versionEndExcluding": "10.0.17763.7558"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "00FCA704-C6E0-4DE4-86F0-80552527AE53",
              "versionEndExcluding": "10.0.17763.7558"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "50848190-CF61-47F6-90B8-DB0C120749F5",
              "versionEndExcluding": "10.0.19044.6093"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "01E62E99-5EDA-487C-A941-E2DA348B501F",
              "versionEndExcluding": "10.0.19045.6093"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "76FEE1E8-EB22-4E01-86D7-13B35F9D2876",
              "versionEndExcluding": "10.0.22621.5624"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "19D0DAB7-4BFF-4BB7-9E0E-B020CF8573C9",
              "versionEndExcluding": "10.0.22631.5624"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "8E866DB2-9CA7-4BCC-8591-9BC94300B779",
              "versionEndExcluding": "10.0.26100.4652"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "10E640FB-32AB-45B6-BC42-56CC587C0A35",
              "versionEndExcluding": "10.0.26100.4652"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "secure@microsoft.com"
}