CVE-2025-59190: CWE-20: Improper Input Validation in Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2
Improper input validation in Microsoft Windows Search Component allows an unauthorized attacker to deny service locally.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-59190 is a vulnerability identified in the Microsoft Windows Search Component within Windows 11 Version 25H2 (build 10.0.26200.0). The root cause is improper input validation (CWE-20), which means the component fails to correctly verify or sanitize inputs it receives. This flaw can be exploited by an unauthorized attacker with local access to the system who can trick the search component into processing malformed input, leading to a denial of service (DoS) condition. The DoS impact manifests as a crash or hang of the Windows Search service, disrupting normal system operations and potentially affecting dependent applications or services. The vulnerability requires no privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), indicating that the attacker must convince a user to perform some action locally. The attack complexity is low (AC:L), and the scope remains unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is confined to the vulnerable component without affecting other system components. Confidentiality and integrity are not impacted, but availability is severely affected (A:H). No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and assigned a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.5, categorizing it as medium severity. This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in system components that handle user or application data.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-59190 is the potential disruption of Windows Search functionality, which can degrade user productivity and affect applications relying on search indexing and retrieval. In environments where Windows Search is integrated with enterprise search solutions or used for compliance and auditing, service interruptions could delay critical operations. Although the vulnerability does not allow data theft or system compromise, repeated or targeted denial of service attacks could lead to operational downtime and increased support costs. Organizations with large numbers of Windows 11 25H2 endpoints, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, may face amplified risks due to the reliance on stable system services. Additionally, local exploitation means insider threats or compromised user accounts could leverage this vulnerability to disrupt systems. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the public disclosure necessitates proactive mitigation to prevent future exploitation.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2025-59190, organizations should: 1) Monitor Microsoft’s security advisories closely and apply official patches or updates as soon as they become available to address the input validation flaw. 2) Restrict local user permissions to limit the ability of unauthorized users to interact with the Windows Search component. 3) Implement application whitelisting and endpoint protection to detect and prevent suspicious activities involving the search service. 4) Educate users to avoid executing untrusted files or scripts that could trigger the vulnerability. 5) Employ system monitoring and logging focused on the Windows Search service to detect abnormal crashes or restarts indicative of exploitation attempts. 6) Consider disabling or limiting Windows Search functionality on critical systems where feasible until a patch is applied. 7) Use network segmentation and access controls to reduce the risk of insider threats exploiting local vulnerabilities. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access and monitoring the specific affected component.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, Ireland
CVE-2025-59190: CWE-20: Improper Input Validation in Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2
Description
Improper input validation in Microsoft Windows Search Component allows an unauthorized attacker to deny service locally.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-59190 is a vulnerability identified in the Microsoft Windows Search Component within Windows 11 Version 25H2 (build 10.0.26200.0). The root cause is improper input validation (CWE-20), which means the component fails to correctly verify or sanitize inputs it receives. This flaw can be exploited by an unauthorized attacker with local access to the system who can trick the search component into processing malformed input, leading to a denial of service (DoS) condition. The DoS impact manifests as a crash or hang of the Windows Search service, disrupting normal system operations and potentially affecting dependent applications or services. The vulnerability requires no privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), indicating that the attacker must convince a user to perform some action locally. The attack complexity is low (AC:L), and the scope remains unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is confined to the vulnerable component without affecting other system components. Confidentiality and integrity are not impacted, but availability is severely affected (A:H). No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and assigned a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.5, categorizing it as medium severity. This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in system components that handle user or application data.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-59190 is the potential disruption of Windows Search functionality, which can degrade user productivity and affect applications relying on search indexing and retrieval. In environments where Windows Search is integrated with enterprise search solutions or used for compliance and auditing, service interruptions could delay critical operations. Although the vulnerability does not allow data theft or system compromise, repeated or targeted denial of service attacks could lead to operational downtime and increased support costs. Organizations with large numbers of Windows 11 25H2 endpoints, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, may face amplified risks due to the reliance on stable system services. Additionally, local exploitation means insider threats or compromised user accounts could leverage this vulnerability to disrupt systems. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the public disclosure necessitates proactive mitigation to prevent future exploitation.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2025-59190, organizations should: 1) Monitor Microsoft’s security advisories closely and apply official patches or updates as soon as they become available to address the input validation flaw. 2) Restrict local user permissions to limit the ability of unauthorized users to interact with the Windows Search component. 3) Implement application whitelisting and endpoint protection to detect and prevent suspicious activities involving the search service. 4) Educate users to avoid executing untrusted files or scripts that could trigger the vulnerability. 5) Employ system monitoring and logging focused on the Windows Search service to detect abnormal crashes or restarts indicative of exploitation attempts. 6) Consider disabling or limiting Windows Search functionality on critical systems where feasible until a patch is applied. 7) Use network segmentation and access controls to reduce the risk of insider threats exploiting local vulnerabilities. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access and monitoring the specific affected component.
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- microsoft
- Date Reserved
- 2025-09-10T23:00:43.462Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 68ee858a3dd1bfb0b7e401b1
Added to database: 10/14/2025, 5:16:58 PM
Last enriched: 10/14/2025, 6:02:42 PM
Last updated: 10/16/2025, 2:41:50 PM
Views: 2
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