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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Log in as standard user
  2. Exploit
    Create symbolic link in Winlogon directory
  3. Execution
    Trigger Winlogon file access
  4. Impact
    Execute code with SYSTEM privileges

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
CWE-59
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Symlink resolution safety
Exploitation Conditions

Local user account required with file creation permissions in Winlogon accessible directories. Winlogon must follow unvalidated symlinks during initialization or logon process without proper link resolution validation.
Impact

CVSS 7.8 (HIGH). Attack vector: Local. Complexity: Low. Privileges required: Low. User interaction: None. Exploitable via local access.
Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to compromise the affected system.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026

Windows Winlogon's failure to properly validate symbolic links before file access enables local privilege escalation on affected Windows Server and Windows 10/11 systems. An authenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated system privileges without user interaction. No patch is currently available for this high-severity issue affecting multiple Windows versions including Server 2025 and Windows 11 26h1.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
v1 Mar 12, 2026 - 21:55 CVSS 7.8

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Winlogon allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. [CVSS 7.8 HIGH]

RemediationAI

Monitor vendor advisories for a patch.

Affected Packages

microsoft windows_10_version_1607_10_0_14393_8957 fix: Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems 10.0.14393.8957, Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems 10.0.14393.8957
microsoft windows_10_version_1809_10_0_17763_8511 fix: Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems 10.0.17763.8511, Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems 10.0.17763.8511
microsoft windows_10_version_21h2_10_0_19044_7058 fix: Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems 10.0.19044.7058, Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems 10.0.19044.7058, Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems 10.0.19044.7058
microsoft windows_10_version_22h2_10_0_19045_7058 fix: Windows 10 Version 22H2 for 32-bit Systems 10.0.19045.7058, Windows 10 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems 10.0.19045.7058, Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems 10.0.19045.7058
microsoft windows_11_version_23h2_10_0_22631_6783 fix: Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems 10.0.22631.6783, Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems 10.0.22631.6783
microsoft windows_11_version_24h2_10_0_26100_8037 fix: Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems 10.0.26100.8037, Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems 10.0.26100.8037
microsoft windows_11_version_25h2_10_0_26200_8037 fix: Windows 11 Version 25H2 for ARM64-based Systems 10.0.26200.8037, Windows 11 Version 25H2 for x64-based Systems 10.0.26200.8037
microsoft windows_11_version_26h1_10_0_28000_1719 fix: Windows 11 Version 26H1 for ARM64-based Systems 10.0.28000.1719, Windows 11 version 26H1 for x64-based Systems 10.0.28000.1719
microsoft windows_server_2012_6_2_9200_25973 fix: Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.25973, Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) 6.2.9200.25973
microsoft windows_server_2012_r2_6_3_9600_23074 fix: Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.23074, Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) 6.3.9600.23074
microsoft windows_server_2016_10_0_14393_8957 fix: Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.8957, Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.8957
microsoft windows_server_2019_10_0_17763_8511 fix: Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.8511, Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.8511
microsoft windows_server_2022_10_0_20348_4893 fix: Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.4893, Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation) 10.0.20348.4893
microsoft windows_server_2022_23h2_edition_10_0_25398_2207 fix: Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation) 10.0.25398.2207
microsoft windows_server_2025_10_0_26100_32522 fix: Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.32522, Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.32522

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 15 packages in microsoft

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Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access). Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Winlogon allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

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

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-25187 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Windows Winlogon that allows authorized users to gain elevated system access. This poses a significant risk to organizations where insider threats or compromised user accounts could lead to full system compromise, particularly affecting administrative security and access controls.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Restrict local administrator group membership to essential personnel only; implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation tools; deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions with behavioral monitoring; enforce multi-factor authentication for administrative access; increase logging and alerting on Winlogon process activity; segment administrative workstations from general user networks; disable unnecessary local logon capabilities where operationally feasible.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 69% exploitable
Data Quality
4 sources
Confidence: Medium
NVD CVE.org EPSS VulDB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
High

Priority Score

39
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +39
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information Disclosure MEDIUM

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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References

Advisories & patches
ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/?id.350026 REF https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-25187 REF https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-25187-detection-script-winlogon-elevation-of-privilege-vulnerability REF https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-25187-mitigation-script-winlogon-elevation-of-privilege-vulnerability

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