CVE-2025-29812 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Microsoft Windows Server 2022 (build 10.0.20348.0) involving an untrusted pointer dereference in the Windows Kernel memory management. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-822, which pertains to untrusted pointer dereference issues that can lead to serious security implications. The flaw allows an authorized local attacker—meaning the attacker must have some level of access to the system—to exploit the kernel's handling of pointers in memory. By manipulating these pointers, the attacker can cause the kernel to dereference untrusted memory addresses, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the kernel context. This results in a local privilege escalation, where the attacker can elevate their privileges from a limited user account to SYSTEM or kernel-level privileges. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects the significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with high impact on all three. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L) and privileges (PR:L), but no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), indicating the vulnerability affects the same security scope. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in March 2025 and published in April 2025, indicating recent discovery. Given the kernel-level nature, exploitation could allow attackers to bypass security controls, install persistent malware, or disrupt system operations, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on Windows Server 2022 infrastructure.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for enterprises and service providers utilizing Windows Server 2022 for critical infrastructure, data centers, and cloud services. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation, allowing attackers to gain full control over affected servers. This can result in data breaches, disruption of services, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, sensitive data could be exposed or altered, and critical services could be interrupted. The local attack vector means that attackers need initial access, which could be gained through other vulnerabilities, phishing, or insider threats. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high severity score suggests that threat actors may develop exploits rapidly. European organizations with compliance obligations under GDPR and other data protection regulations must prioritize addressing this vulnerability to avoid regulatory penalties and reputational damage.

1. Immediate deployment of official patches or updates from Microsoft once available is critical. Organizations should monitor Microsoft security advisories closely. 2. Implement strict access controls and monitoring to limit local user privileges and detect unusual activities indicative of exploitation attempts. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring kernel-level activities and alerting on suspicious pointer dereference or privilege escalation behaviors. 4. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focusing on privilege escalation vectors within Windows Server environments. 5. Harden server configurations by disabling unnecessary services and restricting administrative access to minimize the attack surface. 6. Use application whitelisting and code integrity policies to prevent unauthorized code execution at the kernel level. 7. Maintain comprehensive logging and centralized monitoring to enable rapid incident response if exploitation is suspected. 8. Educate system administrators and security teams about this vulnerability and the importance of layered defense strategies to mitigate local privilege escalation risks.