CVE-2025-47972 is a high-severity race condition vulnerability (CWE-362) found in the Microsoft Input Method Editor (IME) component of Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The flaw arises from improper synchronization during concurrent execution when accessing shared resources within the IME. This race condition can be exploited by an authorized attacker over a network to elevate privileges on the affected system. Specifically, the attacker must have some level of access (low privileges) and must interact with the system (user interaction required) to trigger the vulnerability. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as successful exploitation allows an attacker to gain higher privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.0, indicating a high severity, with attack vector being network-based but requiring high attack complexity and user interaction. The scope is changed, meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in May 2025 and published in July 2025, indicating it is a recent discovery. The race condition in IME is particularly concerning because IME components are often integrated deeply into the OS input stack, and privilege escalation here can bypass many security controls. Since Windows 10 Version 1809 is an older release, organizations still running this version are at risk if they have not applied mitigations or upgrades.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-47972 can be significant, especially in sectors relying on legacy Windows 10 Version 1809 systems, such as manufacturing, healthcare, and government agencies where long-term support versions are common. Successful exploitation allows attackers to elevate privileges remotely, potentially enabling lateral movement, data exfiltration, or deployment of ransomware. The confidentiality of sensitive data can be compromised, integrity of systems altered, and availability disrupted through privilege abuse. Given the network attack vector, this vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks or by malware spreading within corporate networks. Organizations with remote access infrastructure or those using IME for multilingual input are particularly exposed. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity score underscores the urgency of addressing this vulnerability to prevent future exploitation.

1. Upgrade affected systems from Windows 10 Version 1809 to a supported, patched version of Windows 10 or Windows 11 where this vulnerability is resolved. 2. If upgrading is not immediately possible, restrict network access to systems running Windows 10 Version 1809, especially limiting exposure of IME-related services or components. 3. Implement strict user privilege management to minimize the number of users with low privileges who can interact with the vulnerable component. 4. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect unusual privilege escalation attempts or race condition exploitation patterns. 5. Monitor network traffic and system logs for anomalies indicative of exploitation attempts, focusing on IME-related processes and privilege escalation events. 6. Educate users about the risks of interacting with unsolicited network prompts or input requests that could trigger the vulnerability. 7. Apply any interim mitigations or patches released by Microsoft as soon as they become available, and subscribe to vendor advisories for updates. 8. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration tests targeting legacy Windows systems to identify exploitation risks proactively.