CVE-2025-53725 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-843 (Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type, also known as type confusion) affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 17763.0). The flaw resides in the Windows Push Notifications service, where improper handling of resource types leads to type confusion. This allows an authorized attacker with local access and limited privileges to escalate their privileges to a higher level, potentially SYSTEM or administrator privileges. The vulnerability does not require user interaction, increasing its risk profile. Exploitation involves manipulating the notification component to access resources in an unintended manner, bypassing security checks. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack vector is local (AV:L), with low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The scope remains unchanged (S:U). Currently, there are no known exploits in the wild, and no patches have been published, though the vulnerability was reserved in July 2025 and published in August 2025. This vulnerability poses a significant risk to systems still running this older Windows 10 version, especially in environments where local user accounts have some privileges but are not fully trusted. The lack of a patch means organizations must rely on compensating controls until updates are available.

The impact of CVE-2025-53725 on European organizations is considerable, particularly for those still operating Windows 10 Version 1809 in critical environments such as government agencies, healthcare, finance, and industrial control systems. Successful exploitation allows an attacker with limited local privileges to escalate to full administrative control, compromising system confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This can lead to unauthorized data access, installation of persistent malware, disruption of services, and lateral movement within networks. Given the high CVSS score and the absence of patches, organizations face increased risk of targeted attacks or insider threats leveraging this vulnerability. The threat is amplified in environments where legacy systems are maintained for compatibility reasons, and where local user accounts have some privileges. European organizations with stringent data protection requirements (e.g., GDPR) could face regulatory and reputational damage if exploited. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the vulnerability’s presence in widely used Windows 10 builds means the attack surface remains significant.

1. Immediately identify and inventory all systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 17763.0) within the organization. 2. Restrict local user privileges to the minimum necessary, enforcing the principle of least privilege to reduce the risk of privilege escalation. 3. Limit access to vulnerable systems by enforcing network segmentation and strong access controls, especially for sensitive or critical infrastructure systems. 4. Monitor local system logs and security events for unusual privilege escalation attempts or abnormal behavior related to Windows Push Notifications. 5. Disable or restrict Windows Push Notifications service where feasible, especially on systems that do not require this functionality. 6. Prepare for rapid deployment of patches once Microsoft releases updates addressing this vulnerability; subscribe to official Microsoft security advisories for timely information. 7. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block exploitation attempts. 8. Educate system administrators and security teams about this vulnerability and ensure incident response plans include scenarios involving local privilege escalation. 9. Consider upgrading affected systems to a supported and patched Windows version if operationally possible, to eliminate exposure to this and other legacy vulnerabilities.