HIGH · CVSS 7.8 CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

CVE-2025-62221

Microsoft Windows Use After Free Vulnerability

Microsoft Windows

Use after free in Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

CVSS
7.8
HIGH
EPSS
2.5%
30-day exploitation
Ransomware groups
0
recorded exploiting
Published
9 Dec 2025
CWE-416

Exploitation status

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

Listed by CISA on 9 December 2025. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 30 December 2025.

EPSS — exploitation probability

FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 2.5%, which is higher than 84.2% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.

CVSS vector

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

Frequently asked questions

Is CVE-2025-62221 being exploited by ransomware groups?

No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2025-62221.

What does CVE-2025-62221 affect?

CVE-2025-62221 affects Microsoft Windows. Use after free in Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

How severe is CVE-2025-62221?

CVE-2025-62221 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.5%, higher than 84.2% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 30 December 2025.

How should organisations respond to CVE-2025-62221?

Apply the vendor patch for Microsoft Windows as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.