CVE Alert: CVE-2025-25004 – Microsoft – Windows 10 Version 1809

Risk verdict

High-severity local privilege escalation potential; exploitation is not shown as active in SSVC data, but a patch is available and should be applied promptly.

Why this matters

If an attacker gains local access and lures user interaction, they can elevate privileges to full control on the host, risking data integrity and enabling lateral movement within the environment. PowerShell is widely used in enterprise Windows deployments, so the impact could be broad across endpoints and servers if unpatched.

Most likely attack path

• Attacker already has local access (low barrier with existing user credentials or compromised workstation).
• They trigger PowerShell-based actions that exploit the local-privilege escalation vector, aided by low privileges required and user interaction.
• Successful escalation yields high-impact access on the host, enabling further actions such as credential access or remote footholds.

Who is most exposed

Organisations with Windows endpoints and servers running PowerShell (including PowerShell Remoting enabled or automation tasks) are most at risk, particularly where patching cadence is slow or controls over PowerShell usage are weak.

Detection ideas

• Monitor for PowerShell activity with encoded commands or base64 payloads (e.g., -EncodedCommand, -NoLogo).
• Flag PowerShell processes spawned by non-administrative processes or unusual parent processes, especially with elevated privileges.
• Detect abnormal privilege-escalation events or token/rights changes and suspicious scheduled tasks or services created via PowerShell.
• Look for anomalous PowerShell activity during off-hours or from hosts lacking standard admin activity.

Mitigation and prioritisation

• Apply the official fix to all affected Windows builds as a matter of urgency.
• Enable strict PowerShell governance (Constrained Language Mode, WDAC/AppLocker, disable or tightly control Remoting).
• Rotate credentials and review privilege assignments; restrict privilege escalation paths.
• Plan patch rollout in a staged change window; test in a lab before broad deployment.
• If KEV or EPSS data indicate higher urgency, elevate to priority 1; otherwise treat as priority 2 due to high impact but local-exploitation prerequisites.