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CVE-2025-59241VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2025-59241: Microsoft Windows 11 Version 24H2 · Link Following

Affects Microsoft Windows 11 Version 24H2Source CVE Database V5

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 06:26 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 28% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 14 Oct 2025

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: no evidence on record.

    No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-26.

What to do

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Microsoft Windows 11 Version 24H2Affected
  • =10.0.26100.0
Fixed in–

AI-suggested

To mitigate CVE-2025-59241, organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Restrict local user permissions by enforcing the principle of least privilege, ensuring users do not have unnecessary rights that could facilitate exploitation. 2) Audit and harden the Windows Health and Optimized Experiences Service permissions and configurations to prevent unauthorized manipulation of symbolic links or file paths. 3) Employ application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting abnormal file system activities related to link following. 4) Monitor event logs and system behavior for signs of privilege escalation attempts, focusing on activities involving symbolic link creation or modification. 5) Temporarily disable or restrict the vulnerable service where feasible until a patch is released. 6) Prepare for rapid deployment of official patches from Microsoft once available, including testing in controlled environments. 7) Educate IT staff and users about the risks of local privilege escalation and the importance of maintaining secure local accounts. 8) Use Group Policy or other management tools to limit local administrative access and control software installation rights. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific attack vector and service involved.

Description

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Health and Optimized Experiences Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

References

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