CVE-2025-29841 is a high-severity race condition vulnerability identified in the Universal Print Management Service component of Microsoft Windows Server 2022 (build 10.0.20348.0). The flaw arises from improper synchronization during concurrent execution involving shared resources, classified under CWE-362. This race condition allows an authorized local attacker—someone with limited privileges on the affected system—to exploit timing issues in resource access to escalate their privileges. By manipulating the timing of operations, the attacker can gain higher-level permissions than intended, potentially obtaining administrative rights. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as elevated privileges could enable unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification or deletion of critical system files, and disruption of printing services or other server functions. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.0, indicating high severity, with attack vector local, high attack complexity, requiring low privileges and no user interaction. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in March 2025 and published in May 2025, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. Given the critical role of Windows Server 2022 in enterprise environments, especially for print management services, this vulnerability poses a significant risk if left unmitigated.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could have serious consequences. Windows Server 2022 is widely deployed in enterprise and governmental IT infrastructures across Europe, often managing critical print services and other network functions. An attacker exploiting this race condition could elevate privileges locally, potentially leading to full system compromise. This could result in unauthorized access to confidential data, disruption of business operations, and lateral movement within networks. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, public administration, and manufacturing—where Windows Server 2022 is prevalent—are particularly at risk. Additionally, the ability to escalate privileges without user interaction increases the threat level in environments with multiple users or shared access. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high severity score and potential impact necessitate urgent attention to prevent exploitation, especially given the critical infrastructure reliance on Windows Server platforms in Europe.

European organizations should implement targeted mitigation strategies beyond generic patching advice. First, monitor and restrict local access to Windows Server 2022 systems running the Universal Print Management Service, limiting authorized users to only those necessary. Employ strict access control policies and audit local user activities to detect suspicious behavior indicative of race condition exploitation attempts. Utilize application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify anomalous privilege escalation patterns. Since no patch is currently linked, organizations should apply any forthcoming security updates from Microsoft promptly. In the interim, consider disabling or isolating the Universal Print Management Service if print services are not critical or can be temporarily rerouted. Conduct thorough risk assessments to identify servers where this vulnerability could be exploited and prioritize hardening those systems. Additionally, educate system administrators about the risks of race conditions and the importance of timely updates and monitoring. Implementing robust logging and alerting mechanisms for privilege escalation events will aid in early detection and response.