CVE Alert: CVE-2025-59512 – Microsoft – Windows 10 Version 1809

Risk verdict

High risk of local privilege escalation within the CEIP component; exploitation currently unproven but a patch is available and should be deployed promptly.

Why this matters

An attacker with local access can elevate privileges on affected Windows hosts, enabling broader compromise, persistence, and potential data/service impact. CEIP runs across many endpoints in typical deployments, increasing the blast radius if a host is compromised.

Most likely attack path

Given AV:L, AC:L, PR:L, UI:N, an authenticated attacker with local access can exploit with minimal preconditions and no user interaction. Once the flaw is triggered, privilege escalation occurs within the same host (Scope U), enabling higher-privilege activity but not inherently granting external access unless additional footholds exist.

Who is most exposed

Devices with CEIP enabled on Windows 10/11 clients and Windows Server installations, including endpoints with local admin rights or standard users who may run CEIP components.

Detection ideas

• Unusual privilege-escalation events linked to CEIP-related processes.
• Surges in process creation/modification around the CEIP service binary.
• Security logs showing unexpected service changes or elevated token usage.
• File integrity changes to CEIP components.
• EDR alerts for suspicious local privilege escalation indicators on affected OS versions.

Mitigation and prioritisation

• Apply the official Microsoft patch across all affected OSs; verify installation organisation-wide.
• If patching is delayed, restrict CEIP service permissions, use application allowlisting, and minimise CEIP privileges.
• Strengthen local account controls; enforce least privilege and MFA for administrator accounts.
• Enable enhanced monitoring on endpoints; test patch in a controlled environment before broad rollout.
• Document remediation actions; pursue a rapid, time-bound patch cycle.