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CVE-2025-50173: Windows Installer Weak Authentication Allows Local Privilege Escalation

CVE-2025-50173 · published 1 year ago

Summary

An attacker with authorized access to Windows Installer can gain elevated rights on the local machine. This could allow them to make unauthorized changes to the system or install malicious software. To mitigate this, consider updating to the latest version of Windows Installer or configuring secure authentication settings.

What to do

Update microsoft windows_10_1507 to version 10.0.10240.21100 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_1607 to version 10.0.14393.8330 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_1809 to version 10.0.17763.7678 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_21h2 to version 10.0.19044.6216 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_22h2 to version 10.0.19045.6216 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_22h2 to version 10.0.22621.5768 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_23h2 to version 10.0.22631.5768 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_24h2 to version 10.0.26100.4851 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2016 to version 10.0.14393.8330 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2019 to version 10.0.17763.7678 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2022 to version 10.0.20348.3989 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2022_23h2 to version 10.0.25398.1791 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2025 to version 10.0.26100.4851 or later.

Affected software

Vendor	Product	Affected versions
microsoft	windows_10_1507	< 10.0.10240.21100 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1507:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_10_1607	< 10.0.14393.8330 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_10_1809	< 10.0.17763.7678 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	< 10.0.19044.6216 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2::::::::`
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	< 10.0.19045.6216 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2::::::::`
microsoft	windows_11_22h2	< 10.0.22621.5768 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_22h2::::::::`
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	< 10.0.22631.5768 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2::::::::`
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	< 10.0.26100.4851 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2::::::::`
microsoft	windows_server_2008	r2 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:-:sp2:::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_server_2012	r2 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:-:::::::*`
microsoft	windows_server_2016	< 10.0.14393.8330 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016::::::::`
microsoft	windows_server_2019	< 10.0.17763.7678 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019::::::::`
microsoft	windows_server_2022	< 10.0.20348.3989 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022::::::::`
microsoft	windows_server_2022_23h2	< 10.0.25398.1791 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022_23h2::::::::`
microsoft	windows_server_2025	< 10.0.26100.4851 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025::::::::`

Original advisory text

Weak authentication in Windows Installer allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-50173 Vendor Advisory

Fix within

Internet-facing 14 days

Internal At next upgrade

Not known to be exploited
Needs hands-on effort to exploit
Gives an attacker full control

Severity

7.8 High

Exploitation

<1% chance of attack within 30 days

Type

CWE-1390Weak Authentication

Timeline

Published12 Aug 2025

Updated4 Nov 2026

First seen7 Mar 2026

Sources

CVE-2025-50173 · NVD

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