CVE-2025-62468 is a security vulnerability classified as CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) found in the Windows Defender Firewall Service component of Microsoft Windows Server 2025, specifically in Server Core installations version 10.0.26100.0. This vulnerability allows an attacker with authorized high-level privileges to perform an out-of-bounds read operation, which can lead to the disclosure of sensitive information stored in memory. The flaw does not require user interaction and does not affect system integrity or availability, but it compromises confidentiality by leaking potentially sensitive data. The attack vector is local, meaning the attacker must have local access and elevated privileges on the affected system. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.4, reflecting a medium severity due to the limited attack scope and requirement for high privileges. No public exploits or patches are currently available, indicating that the vulnerability is newly disclosed and not yet actively exploited. The vulnerability could be leveraged as a stepping stone for further attacks by gathering sensitive information from memory, such as firewall configurations or other protected data. The Server Core installation is a minimalistic Windows Server deployment option, often used in enterprise environments for improved security and reduced attack surface, but this vulnerability undermines that security assumption to some extent.

For European organizations, especially those operating critical infrastructure, cloud services, or enterprise data centers running Windows Server 2025 Server Core, this vulnerability poses a risk of local information disclosure. Although the attack requires high privileges and local access, insider threats or compromised administrative accounts could exploit this flaw to extract sensitive firewall or system information. This could facilitate lateral movement, privilege escalation, or targeted attacks within the network. The impact on confidentiality could lead to exposure of security configurations or sensitive operational data, potentially weakening the overall security posture. Given that Windows Server is widely used across Europe in government, finance, healthcare, and industrial sectors, the vulnerability could affect a broad range of organizations. However, the lack of remote exploitability and requirement for elevated privileges limit the scope of impact compared to more severe vulnerabilities. Still, the risk is non-negligible in environments where local access controls are weak or where attackers have already gained partial footholds.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately review and restrict local administrative access to Windows Server 2025 Server Core systems, ensuring only trusted personnel have high-level privileges. Implement strict access control policies and monitor for unusual local activity or privilege escalations. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect anomalous behavior related to the Windows Defender Firewall Service. Since no patches are currently available, organizations should prepare to deploy updates promptly once Microsoft releases a fix. In the interim, consider isolating critical servers physically or logically to reduce the risk of unauthorized local access. Regularly audit and harden firewall configurations and system security settings to minimize sensitive information exposure. Additionally, conduct security awareness training for administrators to recognize and report suspicious activities. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly respond if exploitation attempts are detected.