CVE-2025-54114 is a race condition vulnerability classified under CWE-362 affecting the Windows Connected Devices Platform Service in Microsoft Windows Server 2022 (version 10.0.20348.0). The vulnerability arises from improper synchronization when multiple threads or processes concurrently access shared resources, leading to a race condition that can be exploited by an attacker with local authorized access. By exploiting this flaw, an attacker can elevate their privileges on the system, potentially gaining administrative rights. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.0, indicating high severity, with the vector AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, meaning the attack requires local access, high attack complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for privilege escalation. The flaw affects Windows Server 2022, a widely deployed server OS in enterprise environments, particularly those managing connected devices and services. The vulnerability was reserved in July 2025 and published in September 2025, with no patches yet publicly available, emphasizing the need for vigilance and proactive mitigation. The race condition nature means that timing and concurrency issues can be manipulated by attackers to gain unauthorized control, which is particularly dangerous in multi-user or multi-process server environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a critical risk to server infrastructure running Windows Server 2022. Successful exploitation can lead to privilege escalation, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated rights, potentially compromising sensitive data, disrupting services, or deploying further malware. This impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical systems. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are especially vulnerable due to their reliance on Windows Server environments and the sensitivity of their data. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but increases risk from insider threats or attackers who have gained initial footholds via other means. The lack of current public exploits provides a window for mitigation, but the high severity score and broad impact necessitate urgent attention. Disruption or compromise of connected device services could also affect IoT and operational technology systems integrated with Windows Server 2022, amplifying the potential damage.

1. Apply official patches from Microsoft immediately once they become available to address the race condition vulnerability. 2. Restrict local access to Windows Server 2022 systems by enforcing strict access controls, limiting administrative and user privileges to the minimum necessary. 3. Implement robust monitoring and logging to detect unusual privilege escalation attempts or suspicious activity related to the Connected Devices Platform Service. 4. Use application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions to prevent unauthorized code execution. 5. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments focusing on concurrency and synchronization issues in critical services. 6. Employ network segmentation to isolate critical servers and reduce the risk of lateral movement by attackers with local access. 7. Educate system administrators and users about the risks of local privilege escalation and the importance of reporting anomalies promptly. 8. Consider temporary mitigation by disabling or restricting the Connected Devices Platform Service if feasible and if it does not disrupt essential operations, until patches are applied.