CVE-2025-48004 is a use-after-free vulnerability classified under CWE-416 affecting the Microsoft Brokering File System in Windows 11 Version 25H2 (build 10.0.26200.0). Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, leading to undefined behavior such as memory corruption, crashes, or code execution. In this case, the vulnerability allows an unauthorized local attacker to elevate privileges by exploiting improper memory management within the Brokering File System component. The attacker does not require prior authentication or user interaction but must have local access to the system. Successful exploitation can lead to full compromise of the affected system, impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.4, with vector AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating local attack vector, high attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No public exploits are known at this time, and no patches have been linked yet, but the vulnerability is officially published and reserved since May 2025. This vulnerability is critical for environments relying on Windows 11 25H2, especially where local user access is possible, such as shared workstations or multi-user systems.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread adoption of Windows 11 in enterprise environments. An attacker with local access could escalate privileges to SYSTEM level, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or disruption of critical services. This is particularly concerning for sectors with sensitive data or critical infrastructure such as finance, healthcare, government, and manufacturing. The vulnerability undermines system integrity and confidentiality, enabling attackers to bypass security controls. Given the high impact on availability, exploitation could also result in system crashes or denial of service. The lack of required user interaction increases the risk in environments where local access controls are weak or where insider threats exist. Although no exploits are currently known, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a likely target for future exploitation, especially in targeted attacks against European organizations.

1. Monitor Microsoft security advisories closely and apply official patches immediately once released for Windows 11 Version 25H2. 2. Restrict local user access to systems running the affected Windows version, enforcing the principle of least privilege and limiting administrative rights. 3. Implement application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behavior indicative of privilege escalation attempts. 4. Harden system configurations by disabling unnecessary services and features related to the Brokering File System where feasible. 5. Conduct regular audits of local user accounts and remove or disable unused accounts to reduce attack surface. 6. Employ network segmentation to isolate critical systems and prevent lateral movement if local compromise occurs. 7. Educate IT staff and users about the risks of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities and the importance of physical and logical access controls. 8. Prepare incident response plans that include detection and remediation steps for privilege escalation attacks.