CVE-2025-48820

SYSTEM code execution via symbolic-link file deletion

Published Jul 8, 2025 · Updated Feb 13, 2026

Improper link resolution in Microsoft Windows AppX Deployment Service allows local users to elevate privileges on affected Windows builds. The service follows an attacker-created symbolic link during file access, allowing an arbitrary file to be deleted. Low-privileged code execution on the target is required; successful abuse can execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper link resolution in Microsoft Windows AppX Deployment Service allows local users to elevate privileges on affected Windows builds. The service follows an attacker-created symbolic link during file access, allowing an arbitrary file to be deleted. Low-privileged code execution on the target is required; successful abuse can execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-48820
Published
Jul 8, 2025
Updated
Feb 13, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 10 Version 1507
Classifications
CWE-59, T1548
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 8, 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 <10.0.10240.21073

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1507version=10.0.10240.0 <10.0.10240.21073
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.7558
Microsoft · Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.4652
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.8246
Microsoft · Windows 11, version 24H2version=10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.4652
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 21H2version=10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.6093
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation)version=10.0.25398.0 <10.0.25398.1732
Microsoft · Windows Server 2016version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.8246
Microsoft · Windows 11 Version 22H3version=10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.5624
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 22H2version=10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.6093
Microsoft · Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.7558
Microsoft · Windows 11 Version 23H2version=10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.5624
Microsoft · Windows 11, version 22H2version=10.0.22621.0 <10.0.22621.5624
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1607version=10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.8246
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022version=10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.3932
Microsoft · Windows Server 2025version=10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.4652
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 1809version=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.7558

Published CVSS scores

7.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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')
T1548Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism

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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