CVE-2024-21445 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows Server 2022, specifically version 10.0.20348.0. The vulnerability stems from a double free condition (CWE-415) in the Windows USB Print Driver component. A double free occurs when the same memory location is freed twice, leading to undefined behavior such as memory corruption, which attackers can exploit to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges. In this case, the flaw allows an attacker with limited privileges (low privilege user) to elevate their privileges on the system without requiring user interaction. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.0, reflecting a high severity due to the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring the attacker to have local access, and the attack complexity is high (AC:H), indicating that exploitation is not trivial but feasible. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and affects the system's security boundaries (scope unchanged). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and impact warrant prompt attention. The absence of patch links suggests that a fix may be pending or recently released but not yet widely documented. This vulnerability could be leveraged by malicious insiders or attackers who have gained limited access to the system to gain full administrative control, potentially compromising critical server infrastructure.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-21445 could be significant, particularly for enterprises and public sector entities relying on Windows Server 2022 for critical infrastructure, including print services and network management. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, allowing attackers to access sensitive data, disrupt services, or deploy further malware. This is especially concerning for sectors with stringent data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions under GDPR regulations. The elevation of privilege could bypass existing security controls, enabling lateral movement within networks and undermining trust in IT environments. Given that Windows Server 2022 is widely deployed in enterprise environments across Europe, the vulnerability poses a risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational data and services.

Organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Monitor Microsoft security advisories closely for the official patch release and apply updates immediately upon availability. 2) Restrict local access to Windows Server 2022 systems, limiting user accounts with local login privileges to only those necessary. 3) Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 4) Harden USB device usage policies, including disabling or restricting USB print drivers where feasible, to reduce the attack surface. 5) Conduct regular privilege audits to ensure that users have the minimum necessary permissions. 6) Implement network segmentation to isolate critical servers and limit lateral movement opportunities. 7) Maintain comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts early. These measures go beyond generic patching advice by focusing on access control, attack surface reduction, and detection capabilities tailored to this vulnerability's characteristics.