Local privilege escalation via Shell race condition
Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated Apr 16, 2026
A race condition in Windows Shell across affected Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server builds allows local users to elevate privileges. Windows Shell permits concurrent access to a shared resource without proper synchronization, creating an attacker-controlled timing window. A low-privileged local account is required, and successful exploitation grants elevated control; Microsoft has not disclosed the specific resource or code path.
Summary
What happened
A race condition in Windows Shell across affected Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server builds allows local users to elevate privileges. Windows Shell permits concurrent access to a shared resource without proper synchronization, creating an attacker-controlled timing window. A low-privileged local account is required, and successful exploitation grants elevated control; Microsoft has not disclosed the specific resource or code path.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-64661
- Published
- Dec 9, 2025
- Updated
- Apr 16, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2019
- Classifications
- CWE-362, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 9, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 16, 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.
- Affected versionversion=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.8146
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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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