CVE-2025-62469 is a race condition vulnerability classified under CWE-362, found in the Microsoft Brokering File System component of Windows Server 2025 Server Core installations (version 10.0.26100.0). The flaw arises from improper synchronization during concurrent execution of shared resources, allowing an attacker with local authorization to exploit the timing window to elevate privileges. This vulnerability does not require user interaction but demands a high level of attack complexity and local access, meaning the attacker must already have some level of access to the system. The race condition can lead to unauthorized modification or execution of privileged code, resulting in full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected server. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.0, reflecting high severity due to the potential impact and complexity. No public exploits or patches are currently available, indicating the vulnerability is newly disclosed. The Server Core installation is a minimalistic Windows Server deployment often used in enterprise environments for critical infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on hardened server configurations. The race condition nature means that exploitation depends on precise timing, but once successful, it can bypass privilege boundaries, potentially allowing attackers to gain SYSTEM-level privileges from a lower-privileged account.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk as it enables local privilege escalation on Windows Server 2025 Server Core installations, which are commonly deployed in enterprise data centers, cloud environments, and critical infrastructure sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government. Exploitation could allow attackers who have gained limited local access—via compromised credentials, insider threats, or other means—to escalate privileges and take full control of the server. This could lead to data breaches, disruption of services, and lateral movement within networks. The impact is heightened in environments where Server Core is used to reduce attack surface, as this vulnerability undermines that security posture. Additionally, the lack of available patches increases the window of exposure. Organizations with compliance requirements around data protection and operational continuity may face regulatory and reputational damage if exploited. The high complexity and local access requirement somewhat limit the attack scope but do not eliminate the threat, especially in large organizations with many users and administrators.

Until an official patch is released, European organizations should implement strict access controls to limit local access to Windows Server 2025 Server Core systems, including enforcing least privilege principles and using multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. Monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect unusual local privilege escalation attempts or suspicious process behavior. Employing application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions can help identify exploitation attempts. Network segmentation should be used to isolate critical servers and reduce the risk of lateral movement. Organizations should prepare for rapid deployment of patches once available by maintaining up-to-date asset inventories and patch management processes. Additionally, consider using virtualization or containerization to isolate critical workloads and reduce the impact of potential exploitation. Security teams should also conduct internal penetration testing focusing on local privilege escalation vectors to identify and remediate potential attack paths.