CVE-2025-29837

Protected-file disclosure via symbolic-link following

Published May 13, 2025 · Updated Feb 13, 2026

Link-following in Microsoft Windows Installer allows local users on affected Windows builds to read arbitrary protected files. The Windows Installer service follows an attacker-created symbolic link before opening a file, causing the service to read outside the user's authorization boundary. Low-privileged code execution on the target is required, and exposed files can include stored credentials.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.66%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Link-following in Microsoft Windows Installer allows local users on affected Windows builds to read arbitrary protected files. The Windows Installer service follows an attacker-created symbolic link before opening a file, causing the service to read outside the user's authorization boundary. Low-privileged code execution on the target is required, and exposed files can include stored credentials.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-29837
Published
May 13, 2025
Updated
Feb 13, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 10 Version 1507
Classifications
CWE-59, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 13, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.21014

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1507version=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.21014
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.7314
Microsoft · Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.4061
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.8066
Microsoft · Windows 11, version 24H2version=10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.4061
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.25475
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.25475
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 21H2version=10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.5854
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation)version=10.0.25398.0 <10.0.25398.1611
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.8066
Microsoft · Windows 11 Version 22H3version=10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.5335
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.27729
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.27729
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 22H2version=10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.5854
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.22577
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.7314
Microsoft · Windows 11 Version 23H2version=10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.5335
Microsoft · Windows 11, version 22H2version=10.0.22621.0 <10.0.22621.5335
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1607version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.8066
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2version=6.0.6003.0 <6.0.6003.23279
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022version=10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.3692
Microsoft · Windows Server 2025version=10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.4061
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1809version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.7314
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.22577
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)version=6.0.6003.0 <6.0.6003.23279

Published CVSS scores

5.5MicrosoftCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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