Windows Server 2025 Critical Bugs: Firewall Profile Issues & RDP Freezing Fixes

Windows Server 2025, Microsoft's latest server operating system, has recently encountered critical issues that have sent ripples through the enterprise IT community. These problems, emerging particularly after recent security updates and system restarts, expose the delicate balance organizations must maintain between security patching and system stability. For IT administrators managing Active Directory environments and remote desktop infrastructures, understanding these bugs, their impacts, and available workarounds is essential to ensuring continued operational reliability.

The Domain Controller Firewall Profile Bug​

A pressing issue identified within Windows Server 2025 domain controllers involves the incorrect application of firewall profiles immediately following a system restart. Microsoft has issued an official warning about this problem, which specifically affects domain controllers running the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) role.

Nature of the Bug​

Upon reboot, instead of loading the domain firewall profile—which is designed to restrict ports and protocols appropriately for domain network security—domain controllers may default to the standard public firewall profile. This misapplication leads to several consequences:

• Domain controllers become inaccessible on the domain network, disrupting essential Active Directory services.
• Applications and services dependent on these domain controllers may fail or be unreachable.
• Network ports and protocols that should be restricted remain open, posing significant security risks.

This behavior impairs crucial AD functions such as replication, Group Policy application, and user authentication, potentially throwing the entire domain environment into disarray.

Scope and Affected Systems​

The bug is isolated to Windows Server 2025 systems with the AD DS role. Earlier versions of Windows Server or client operating systems are not impacted. Its specificity to this new server version highlights challenges in transitioning to the latest platform while maintaining enterprise service continuity.

Workarounds​

Until Microsoft releases a permanent fix, administrators are advised to apply a manual or automated workaround:

• Manually restart the network adapter using the PowerShell command:
  Restart-NetAdapter *
• To reduce operational overhead, Microsoft recommends creating a scheduled task that triggers this network adapter restart automatically after every reboot, ensuring the correct firewall profile loads properly.

While effective, these workarounds require vigilant implementation after each restart, with the risk of domain outages anytime a restart occurs without applying them.

Microsoft’s Response and Future Fixes​

Microsoft engineers are actively investigating and developing a permanent solution to this bug. However, there is no firm timeline for a release. Organizations relying heavily on Active Directory are encouraged to monitor official Microsoft advisories closely and plan reboots cautiously while using the temporary mitigation strategies.

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Freezing After February 2025 Update (KB5051987)​

In addition to the firewall profile issue, Windows Server 2025 users have reported severe Remote Desktop Protocol problems following the installation of the February 11, 2025, security update KB5051987. This bug causes RDP sessions to freeze shortly after they begin, with mouse and keyboard inputs becoming unresponsive.

Problem Details​

• RDP sessions on Windows Server 2025 may freeze almost immediately after connection.
• Once frozen, the session does not respond to inputs, forcing users to disconnect and reconnect repeatedly.
• This problem affects mission-critical remote management scenarios, undermining IT administrators' ability to maintain and troubleshoot servers.

Historical Context and Similarities​

A comparable issue was previously seen on Windows 11 version 24H2 where UDP-based RDP connections would disconnect after about 65 seconds when connecting to older servers. Microsoft remedied that problem with the March 27, 2025, optional update KB5053656. However, the Windows Server 2025 freezing issue is more severe, causing full-session freezes rather than disconnects, and remains unresolved.

Technical Underpinnings​

The root cause appears to lie in the interaction between the Remote Desktop components and recent security hardening embedded in KB5051987. The update impacts the processing of input data over RDP connections. While exact technical details remain under investigation, this glitch severely impairs remote management capabilities.

Mitigation Measures​

Until a fix is provided, administrators can consider the following:

• Repeatedly disconnect and reconnect RDP sessions as a temporary workaround.
• Adjust Group Policy settings to stabilize RDP sessions, such as enabling "Select network detection on the server."
• Delay or carefully stage deployment of KB5051987 in sensitive environments.
• Use alternative remote access tools cautiously as backup options.

Microsoft is reportedly working on a fix, but no specific timeframe has been announced. IT professionals are urged to stay updated via the Windows Release Health Dashboard and WindowsForum.com community discussions.

Additional Windows Server 2025 Update Challenges​

Beyond the above, Windows Server 2025 updates such as KB5055523 (April 2025) have introduced issues affecting Windows Hello sign-in reliability, especially on systems using advanced security features like Dynamic Root of Trust for Measurement (DRTM) and System Guard Secure Launch. Users performing system resets might face failures in facial recognition or PIN authentication, compelling manual re-enrollment to restore functionality.
Furthermore, a previous boot failure bug affecting servers booting from iSCSI LUNs was addressed in the February cumulative update KB5051987. These recurring update-related challenges illustrate the complexity of modern enterprise server environments where feature richness and tightened security can inadvertently increase system fragility.

Implications for IT Administration and Enterprise Stability​

The accumulation of these bugs highlights several important considerations for enterprise IT professionals:

• Rigorous Pre-Deployment Testing: Deploying updates in controlled, production-like test environments is critical. Issues such as firewall misconfiguration and RDP freezing can be caught and mitigated before affecting business operations.
• Careful Patch Management and Staging: Staggered updates and readiness to roll back problematic patches can prevent prolonged outages.
• Automated Workarounds to Reduce Downtime: Scheduled tasks or scripts to apply network adapter restarts reduce manual intervention needs but require robust monitoring.
• Communication and Monitoring: Constant liaison with Microsoft’s official advisories and active participation in community forums enable rapid awareness of emerging issues and shared best practices.
• Balancing Security and Stability: While security patches are indispensable to defend against evolving threats, their impact on system usability must be carefully managed to avoid disrupting critical services.

Conclusion​

Windows Server 2025’s recent challenges with the firewall profile bug and Remote Desktop freezing underscore the inherent tensions in rapidly evolving enterprise IT environments. While Microsoft is actively working to produce fixes, administrators face the difficult task of managing temporary workarounds and minimizing disruption in the interim. These experiences serve as a valuable reminder that meticulous update validation, vigilant monitoring, and proactive community engagement remain foundational to maintaining resilient and secure Windows Server infrastructures.
Keeping abreast of these issues, sharing insights on platforms such as WindowsForum.com, and following Microsoft’s guidance will help organizations navigate these growing pains as Windows Server 2025 matures into a stable enterprise platform.

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For additional detailed discussion and community-sourced troubleshooting, WindowsForum.com remains an essential resource where IT administrators can collaborate to overcome these complex Windows Server 2025 challenges .

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Source: Windows Server 2025 Restart Bug Breaks Connection with Active Directory Domain Controller

 

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Windows Server 2025, Microsoft's latest iteration of its server operating system, has encountered critical issues that are alarming IT administrators managing enterprise environments. Among these, a major bug affecting domain controllers after system restarts has raised significant operational and security concerns. This issue, alongside remote desktop session freezes triggered by recent security patches, underscores the challenges of maintaining system stability amid rapid update cycles.

The Restart Bug on Windows Server 2025 Domain Controllers​

Microsoft has issued an alert regarding a critical fault impacting Windows Server 2025 domain controllers specifically. Following a system reboot, these servers unexpectedly load the standard or public firewall profile rather than the domain firewall profile necessary for their proper operation. This misconfiguration creates a cascade of problems:

• Domain Accessibility: Domain controllers may become unreachable within the network environment because the firewall fails to enforce domain-specific restrictions.
• Service Failures: Applications and services reliant on these domain controllers may malfunction or become inaccessible, affecting both server-side operations and remote client interactions.
• Security Risks: Ports and protocols intended to be secured by the domain firewall profile remain open due to the inappropriate firewall settings, potentially exposing the network to threats.

Significantly, this bug is isolated to Windows Server 2025 systems running the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) role; neither earlier Windows Server versions nor client operating systems are impacted.

Cause and Impact​

The root cause lies in the domain controllers applying the incorrect network profile immediately after reboot. Instead of the 'Domain Authenticated' profile, the servers fall back to either the 'Public' or default firewall profile. As a result, critical AD functions such as Group Policy updates, domain replication, and authentication are disrupted, greatly affecting enterprise environments that heavily depend on Active Directory for identity and access management.

Workarounds and Mitigation​

Microsoft recommends a manual workaround to mitigate the effects: restarting the network adapter on the affected servers post-reboot. Administrators can execute the following PowerShell command:
Restart-NetAdapter *
Given that this workaround must be repeated after every reboot, Microsoft advises automating the process through scheduled tasks that activate upon system restart. This stopgap measure aims to restore the domain firewall profile and resume normal network operations.

Long-Term Fix Efforts​

Microsoft has acknowledged the severity of this problem and is actively working on a fix to be delivered in an upcoming update. However, no precise timeline has been provided, leaving many organizations to cope with potential network instability until a permanent resolution arrives.

Remote Desktop Freezing Following February 2025 Update​

In a separate but equally concerning development, the Windows Server 2025 community has reported Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) sessions freezing after the installation of the February 2025 cumulative security update (KB5051987). This bug manifests as an unresponsive Remote Desktop session shortly after connection establishment, where neither mouse movements nor keyboard inputs are registered.

Technical Overview​

• The freezing affects Windows Server 2025 systems with the February update and later patches.
• The session becomes completely unresponsive, forcing users to disconnect and reconnect to regain control.
• This issue appears related to how the security update interacts with Remote Desktop components, affecting input data processing over RDP.
• A similar bug was observed earlier in Windows 11 version 24H2, where UDP-based RDP sessions disconnect after about 65 seconds when connecting to older server versions like Windows Server 2016. That issue was resolved with a March 2025 security update.

Impact on IT Operations​

The freezing of RDP sessions is a critical disruption for IT administrators who rely on remote desktop access for server management, troubleshooting, and maintenance. Prolonged unresponsiveness can hinder critical operations, delay response times, and increase helpdesk load due to repeated session dropouts.

Workarounds and Recommendations​

The community and Microsoft suggest several mitigation strategies:

• Update Verification: Ensure that systems have the latest cumulative updates beyond KB5051987, as incremental patches may reduce the bug's severity.
• Test Environments: Deploy updates in controlled environments before widespread rollout to capture issues earlier.
• Fallback Tools: Use alternative remote management tools temporarily if RDP instability is too disruptive.
• Monitoring and Communication: Continuously monitor system behavior and maintain active communication channels with Microsoft's support and user communities.

Microsoft has not yet announced a definitive fix for this freezing issue, emphasizing the complex interplay between security hardening and system stability in Windows Server 2025.

Broader Security and Operational Considerations​

These two prominent issues reflect the inherent tension in modern IT environments between rapidly patching security vulnerabilities and ensuring operational stability. While security updates are indispensable in defending against emerging threats, they occasionally introduce unintended side effects that can significantly impact infrastructure reliability.
Administrators are thus encouraged to adopt best practices, including:

• Incremental and Phased Update Deployment: Minimizes risk by allowing detection of adverse effects in smaller segments before full-scale rollout.
• Comprehensive Testing: Simulating production environments helps uncover conflicts that could cause service disruptions.
• Robust Rollback Procedures: Ensure quick restoration to previously stable configurations if updates induce critical failures.
• Community Engagement: Participate in forums such as WindowsForum.com to share insights, exchange workaround tips, and stay updated on evolving solutions.

Conclusion​

The domain controller firewall profile bug and the Remote Desktop freezing issue during the Windows Server 2025 update cycle highlight the delicate balance Microsoft and IT professionals must strike. Enterprises relying on Windows Server 2025 for core identity services and remote administration are advised to heed Microsoft's workarounds diligently, automate mitigation where possible, and prepare for possible disruptions during server restarts.
As Microsoft progresses toward patching these critical bugs, the IT community's resilience, proactive monitoring, and collaborative troubleshooting stand as key factors in navigating these challenges. Ultimately, these incidents underscore the essential value of rigorous update management and comprehensive testing in sustaining secure and dependable server operations in today's fast-evolving digital landscape.

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Source: Windows Server 2025 Restart Bug Breaks Connection with Active Directory Domain Controller