CVE-2025-59241: Windows Health and Optimized Experiences Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Overview

Severity

High (CVSS 7.8)

CVSS Vector

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

Category

Elevation of Privilege

Exploit Status

Not Exploited

Exploitation Likelihood

Less Likely

Patch Tuesday

2025-Oct

Released

2025-10-14

EPSS Score

0.07% (percentile: 21.4%)

Description

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Health and Optimized Experiences Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

FAQ

What privileges could be gained by an attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability? An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain administrator privileges.

Affected Products (4)

Windows

• Windows 11 Version 25H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 25H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems

Security Updates (1)

• 5066835

Acknowledgments

<a href="https://twitter.com/filip_dragovic">Filip Dragović</a>

Revision History

• 2025-10-14: Information published.