CVE-2025-53133 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability identified in the Windows PrintWorkflowUserSvc component of Microsoft Windows Server 2025, specifically affecting the Server Core installation version 10.0.26100.0. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416, which involves improper handling of memory that has already been freed, leading to potential exploitation scenarios. In this case, an authorized local attacker with limited privileges can exploit this flaw to elevate their privileges on the affected system. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require local access with some level of authorization. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with a complex attack vector (local access with high complexity) but no user interaction needed. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. Exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or commands with elevated privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and impact make it a significant risk for environments running the affected Windows Server 2025 Server Core installations. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation and monitoring.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, especially for enterprises and service providers relying on Windows Server 2025 Server Core installations for critical infrastructure, application hosting, or print workflow management. Successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation, enabling attackers to bypass security controls, access sensitive data, disrupt services, or deploy further malware or ransomware. Given the Server Core installation is often used in environments prioritizing minimal footprint and security, the presence of this vulnerability undermines these assumptions. The impact extends to confidentiality breaches, integrity violations through unauthorized changes, and availability disruptions if attackers disable or manipulate services. This could affect sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure operators across Europe, where Windows Server 2025 adoption is expected to be significant. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks or insider threat scenarios, increasing the risk profile for organizations with complex, multi-user environments.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting local access to Windows Server 2025 Server Core systems, ensuring only trusted and necessary personnel have login privileges. 2. Implement strict access control policies and monitor for unusual privilege escalation attempts or anomalous behavior related to PrintWorkflowUserSvc. 3. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting exploitation attempts targeting use-after-free vulnerabilities. 4. Regularly audit and harden server configurations, disabling unnecessary services and features related to printing workflows if not required. 5. Maintain up-to-date backups and develop incident response plans specifically addressing privilege escalation scenarios. 6. Monitor official Microsoft channels for patches or security updates addressing CVE-2025-53133 and apply them promptly once available. 7. Consider deploying additional security layers such as virtualization-based security (VBS) or Credential Guard to limit the impact of privilege escalation. 8. Conduct targeted penetration testing and vulnerability assessments focusing on local privilege escalation vectors to identify and remediate potential exploitation paths.