CVE-2025-62461 is a buffer over-read vulnerability classified under CWE-126, found in the Windows Projected File System Filter Driver component of Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2 (build 10.0.26200.0). This vulnerability occurs when the driver improperly handles memory boundaries, allowing an attacker with authorized local access to read beyond allocated buffers. This memory mismanagement can lead to leakage of sensitive information or corruption of memory, which in turn enables privilege escalation. The attacker does not require user interaction to exploit this flaw, but must have some level of local privileges already (PR:L). The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H) of the system, as it can allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges and potentially take full control of the affected system. The attack complexity is low (AC:L), meaning exploitation does not require specialized conditions or knowledge beyond local access. The vulnerability has not yet been observed exploited in the wild, but its presence in a core Windows component makes it a critical concern. No patches or mitigation links are currently published, indicating that organizations should monitor for updates closely. The Windows Projected File System Filter Driver is responsible for projecting file system data, a critical function for file system operations, making this vulnerability particularly impactful.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-62461 could be severe. Successful exploitation allows attackers to escalate privileges locally, potentially gaining administrative control over affected Windows 11 systems. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, disruption of business operations, and deployment of further malicious activities such as ransomware or espionage. Organizations with high reliance on Windows 11 Version 25H2, especially in sectors like finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, face increased risk. The vulnerability could facilitate lateral movement within networks, undermining internal security controls. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, organizations could suffer significant operational and reputational damage. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the risk of future exploitation remains high.

1. Monitor Microsoft security advisories closely and apply official patches immediately upon release to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Restrict local access to Windows 11 Version 25H2 systems by enforcing strict access control policies and limiting user privileges to the minimum necessary. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous local privilege escalation attempts. 4. Conduct regular audits of user accounts and permissions to identify and remove unnecessary local privileges. 5. Implement application whitelisting and control execution policies to prevent unauthorized code execution. 6. Use virtualization-based security features available in Windows 11 to isolate critical system components. 7. Educate IT staff and users about the risks of local privilege escalation and the importance of reporting suspicious activities. 8. Prepare incident response plans specifically addressing local privilege escalation scenarios to enable rapid containment and remediation.