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Active Directory schema extension issue if you use a Windows Server 2025 schema master role

Nino_Bilic's avatar
Nino_Bilic
Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
Oct 09, 2025

Working with our Windows Team counterparts we have become aware of a specific set of circumstances that might affect your on-premises Active Directory environment replication after you install a recent Exchange Server CU (Cumulative Update), such as Exchange 2019 CU15 or Exchange SE RTM.

This issue can happen ONLY if you use a Windows Server 2025 as the schema master FSMO role holder in your environment. Environments where you might use Windows Server 2025 as domain controller with other roles are not impacted.

The issue

Windows Server 2025 schema master FSMO role holder might create duplicate schema attribute values after Exchange Server CU update is installed. After this happens, your AD replication might start failing with the following Application log events:

Error 8418: The replication operation failed because of a schema mismatch between the servers involved.

Warning 1203 (NTDS Replication): The local domain controller could not replicate the following object from the source domain controller at the following network address because of an Active Directory schema mismatch.

Additionally, tools like repadmin /showrepl would show AD replication issues.

Windows Team has documented this as a known issue in KB5065426 (please see ‘Known issues in this update​​​​​​​’).

How to prevent this problem

To not run into this issue, please ensure that you do not use a Windows Server 2025 as your schema master FSMO role holder before installing an Exchange Server CU (including Exchange SE RTM). Windows Server 2025 domain controllers can exist but should not be schema master FSMO role holders.

The solution

Windows Server team is working on a permanent fix for this issue (scheduled to be released in the following months).

If you already have this problem, the Windows Support Team has a process that will allow your AD replication to continue but a manual intervention (editing of schema) might be required. Please open a support ticket with a Windows Active Directory team if you are already impacted by this.

Nino Bilic

Published Oct 09, 2025
Version 1.0

3 Comments

  • toddnelson-work's avatar
    toddnelson-work
    Copper Contributor

    Nino_Bilic​, what is the recommendation if all DCs are 2025 and we are working toward transitioning to SE given that EOL support is 14 Oct 2025?  Do we just proceed with the transition and open a ticket with support?  Or will there be another path like extending 2019 support?

    • Nino_Bilic's avatar
      Nino_Bilic
      Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft

      Install a single DC (let's say WS 2022) and make it a schema master. Install Exchange SE. Once all is done, you can remove that DC (after transferring the role to a WS 2025 DC). The fix for this should be out by end of calendar year when the problem will stop existing at all. My recommendation would be to NOT just run setup and open a ticket, because your AD replication might break. Exchange CU/Hu updates are not an issue; only the CU setup makes changes to schema.

      There is no change to end of life for E2016/E2019, still less than a week away.