CVE-2025-49661

SYSTEM privilege escalation via untrusted pointer dereference

Published Jul 8, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026

Untrusted pointer dereference in Microsoft Windows AFD.sys allows local users with low privileges to obtain SYSTEM privileges. The Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock dereferences an attacker-controlled pointer, but Microsoft has not disclosed the affected code path or triggering operation. Successful exploitation requires local authenticated access and grants complete control of the operating system without user interaction.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Untrusted pointer dereference in Microsoft Windows AFD.sys allows local users with low privileges to obtain SYSTEM privileges. The Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock dereferences an attacker-controlled pointer, but Microsoft has not disclosed the affected code path or triggering operation. Successful exploitation requires local authenticated access and grants complete control of the operating system without user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-49661
Published
Jul 8, 2025
Updated
Feb 26, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 10 Version 1507
Classifications
CWE-822, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 8, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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 Server 2012 (Server Core installation)version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.25573
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012version=6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.25573
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 Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.27820
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)version=6.1.7601.0 <6.1.7601.27820
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 22H2version=10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.6093
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.22676
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 2008 Service Pack 2version=6.0.6003.0 <6.0.6003.23418
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
Microsoft · Windows Server 2012 R2version=6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.22676
Microsoft · Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)version=6.0.6003.0 <6.0.6003.23418

Published CVSS scores

7.8MicrosoftCVSS: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-822Untrusted Pointer Dereference
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo