CVE-2025-62218: Windows 10 1607 Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-62218 Overview

CVE-2025-62218 is a race condition vulnerability in the Microsoft Wireless Provisioning System that allows an authorized local attacker to elevate privileges. The flaw arises from concurrent execution using a shared resource with improper synchronization [CWE-362]. Successful exploitation grants an attacker elevated privileges on affected Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems.

Microsoft published the advisory on November 11, 2025. The vulnerability affects a broad range of supported Windows client releases from Windows 10 1607 through Windows 11 25H2. No public proof-of-concept exploit is available, and the issue is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Critical Impact
A low-privileged local attacker who wins the race window can execute code in an elevated security context, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the target host.

Affected Products

Microsoft Windows 10 (versions 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2)
Microsoft Windows 11 (versions 23H2, 24H2, 25H2)
Both x86 and x64 architectures where applicable

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-11 - CVE-2025-62218 published to NVD
2025-11-11 - Microsoft releases security update via MSRC
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-62218

Vulnerability Analysis

The Wireless Provisioning System is a Windows component that handles wireless network configuration and profile provisioning. The vulnerability stems from improper synchronization when multiple threads or processes access a shared resource concurrently. An attacker who is already authenticated on the system can trigger the race condition to manipulate the shared resource during the narrow window between validation and use.

Exploitation requires local access and low privileges but has high attack complexity because the attacker must reliably win the race. When successful, the attacker gains code execution in a higher-privileged context, typically SYSTEM. This enables full compromise of the local host, including credential theft, persistence, and lateral movement preparation.

Root Cause

The root cause is a classic Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) pattern within the Wireless Provisioning System. The component reads or validates a shared object, then acts on that object without holding a lock or atomic reference. A concurrent thread controlled by the attacker can modify the shared state between the check and the use, redirecting a privileged operation.

Attack Vector

The attack requires local, authenticated access to the target host. The attacker launches concurrent operations that interact with the Wireless Provisioning System while racing to modify a shared resource such as a configuration structure, handle, or file path. No user interaction is required. See the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory for authoritative technical details.

No verified public exploit code is available for this vulnerability. Microsoft has not disclosed exploitation details beyond the advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-62218

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by svchost.exe hosting wireless provisioning services with SYSTEM integrity
Anomalous file or registry writes by non-administrative users to wireless profile storage paths
Repeated failed or rapid successive calls into wireless provisioning APIs from a single low-privileged process

Detection Strategies

Monitor Windows Event Logs for abnormal privilege elevation events (Event IDs 4672, 4688) originating from wireless provisioning service contexts
Alert on process creation chains where a standard user process leads to SYSTEM-level execution shortly after wireless configuration API activity
Use EDR behavioral analytics to detect handle duplication or symlink-style redirection patterns typical of race condition exploitation

Monitoring Recommendations

Track patch compliance across Windows 10 and Windows 11 fleets using vulnerability management tooling
Enable command-line auditing and Sysmon Event ID 1 and 11 to capture race exploitation attempts
Correlate telemetry from wireless service processes with user session context to identify privilege boundary violations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-62218

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the November 2025 Microsoft security updates to all affected Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems without delay
Prioritize patching on multi-user hosts, jump boxes, and shared workstations where local users are present
Audit local user accounts and remove unnecessary interactive logon rights to reduce the attack surface

Patch Information

Microsoft has released security updates addressing CVE-2025-62218. Refer to the Microsoft CVE-2025-62218 Update Guide for the specific KB article and update package that matches each affected Windows build.

Workarounds

No official workaround has been published by Microsoft. Patching is the required remediation.
Restrict local logon rights and enforce least privilege to limit which users can attempt local exploitation
Where wireless provisioning is not required, consider policy-based restrictions on wireless configuration changes for standard users

bash

# Verify installation of the relevant cumulative update on Windows
wmic qfe list brief /format:table

# PowerShell alternative to enumerate installed updates
Get-HotFix | Sort-Object -Property InstalledOn -Descending | Select-Object -First 20