Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-9491

Microsoft Windows 11 23H2 10.0.22631.4169

High EPSS
Published
26 August 2025
Modified
17 June 2026
CVSS Score v4 4.6
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
EPSS Score 0.69 99.3th percentile
Risk Priority 80 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2025-9491 is a medium-severity User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation of Critical Information (CWE-451) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 11 23H2. Its CVSS base score is 4.6 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Phishing (T1566); ranked in the top 0.7% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

A06:2025 Insecure Design

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Microsoft Windows LNK File UI Misrepresentation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Microsoft Windows. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a…

more

malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of .LNK files. Crafted data in an .LNK file can cause hazardous content in the file to be invisible to a user who inspects the file via the Windows-provided user interface. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current user. Was ZDI-CAN-25373.

CWE(s)
CWE-451

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1566 Phishing Initial Access
Adversaries may send phishing messages to gain access to victim systems.
attack.mitre.org →
T1566.002 Spearphishing Link Initial Access
Adversaries may send spearphishing emails with a malicious link in an attempt to gain access to victim systems.
attack.mitre.org →
T1566.003 Spearphishing via Service Initial Access
Adversaries may send spearphishing messages via third-party services in an attempt to gain access to victim systems.
attack.mitre.org →
T1598 Phishing for Information Reconnaissance
Adversaries may send phishing messages to elicit sensitive information that can be used during targeting.
attack.mitre.org →
T1598.003 Spearphishing Link Reconnaissance
Adversaries may send spearphishing messages with a malicious link to elicit sensitive information that can be used during targeting.
attack.mitre.org →
T1534 Internal Spearphishing Lateral Movement
After they already have access to accounts or systems within the environment, adversaries may use internal spearphishing to gain access to additional information or compromise other users within the same organization.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-21314Same product: Microsoft Windows 11 23H2
CVE-2024-38112Same product: Microsoft Windows 11 23H2
CVE-2024-43461Same product: Microsoft Windows 11 23H2
CVE-2026-45650Same vendor: Microsoft
CVE-2024-38197Same vendor: Microsoft
CVE-2024-49040Same vendor: Microsoft
CVE-2023-36391Same product: Microsoft Windows 11 23H2
CVE-2025-62224Same vendor: Microsoft
CVE-2026-40416Same vendor: Microsoft
CVE-2024-38093Same vendor: Microsoft

Affected Assets

microsoft
windows 11 23h2
10.0.22631.4169

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly address design and implementation of accurate, non-spoofable UI elements.

PR.AT-01 partial match
prevents

User awareness training helps people recognize and avoid harm from UI misrepresentation such as phishing, but does not prevent the flaw itself.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

Security testing can detect UI misrepresentation vulnerabilities before deployment.

A.6.3 Information security awareness, education and training partial match
prevents

Security awareness training can teach users to recognize UI misrepresentation and phishing attempts.

A.8.23 Web filtering partial match
mitigates

Web filtering can block known phishing sites that exploit UI misrepresentation.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure development lifecycle includes UI/UX security requirements that can prevent misrepresentation of critical information.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements can mandate proper display and validation of critical information in the UI.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding practices can prevent UI flaws that obscure or spoof critical information.

References