Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-25165 is a Windows local privilege escalation flaw in Performance Counters. It cannot be used directly over the network based on the provided data, but a user or malware already running on a vulnerable system could potentially gain higher privileges.
Executive priority
Patch with high priority in the normal Microsoft security update cycle. This is not described as remotely exploitable, but it could increase the impact of phishing, malware, or insider activity by enabling higher system privileges.
Technical view
The source describes a CWE-476 null pointer dereference in Windows Performance Counters allowing an authorized local attacker to elevate privileges. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely on listed Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server versions that have not received the relevant Microsoft security update. Risk is higher on shared workstations, servers, and systems where low-privileged users or malware may already execute code locally.
Exploitation context
The provided bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. CVSS marks exploit code maturity as unproven. Treat this mainly as a post-compromise or insider-risk privilege escalation issue until stronger exploitation evidence appears.
Researcher notes
Public detail is limited to the CVE description, CVSS vector, affected platforms, and MSRC advisory. Do not assume exploit availability or exact reachable code paths from the bundle. Validate exposure through build and patch state rather than proof-of-concept testing.
Mitigation direction
- Apply the Microsoft security update referenced by the MSRC advisory.
- Prioritize shared endpoints, admin workstations, and Windows servers.
- Verify older Windows Server and Windows 10 systems are still receiving updates.
- Restrict unnecessary local logon rights and low-privileged interactive access.
- Monitor vendor guidance for revised affected versions or mitigations.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Windows client and server versions against the affected list.
- Confirm installation of the relevant Microsoft security update.
- Review vulnerability scanner findings for CVE-2026-25165.
- Check endpoint telemetry for suspicious local privilege escalation behavior.
- Track MSRC updates for any exploitability or remediation changes.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-476: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupPrivilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-25165 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
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
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C1.85.9microsoftVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: 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
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- Performance Counters for Windows Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityCVE reference, microsoft · vendor-advisory, patch
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
NULL Pointer Dereference
NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.