CVE-2024-26180 is a high-severity stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-121) affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The vulnerability specifically relates to a Secure Boot security feature bypass, which is critical because Secure Boot is designed to ensure that only trusted software is loaded during the system startup process. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with high privileges by overflowing a stack buffer, potentially bypassing Secure Boot protections. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.0, indicating a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack vector is adjacent network (AV:A), requiring no privileges (PR:N) but some user interaction (UI:R). The vulnerability scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is limited to the vulnerable component. Although no known exploits are currently observed in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and impact make it a significant risk, especially for systems still running the unsupported Windows 10 Version 1809. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases exposure. Given the stack-based buffer overflow, successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution, complete system compromise, and bypass of Secure Boot protections, undermining system integrity from the earliest boot stages.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, particularly in sectors relying on legacy Windows 10 Version 1809 deployments, such as industrial control systems, government agencies, and critical infrastructure operators. The ability to bypass Secure Boot compromises the trustworthiness of the boot process, potentially allowing persistent malware or rootkits to be installed undetected. This could lead to data breaches, operational disruptions, and loss of system integrity. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all at high risk, which could impact sensitive personal data protected under GDPR, intellectual property, and essential services. The requirement for user interaction slightly limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where social engineering or phishing attacks are common. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for mitigation, but the high severity score and potential for privilege escalation make timely remediation critical.

1. Immediate upgrade or migration from Windows 10 Version 1809 to a supported and patched Windows version (e.g., Windows 10 21H2 or later) to eliminate exposure. 2. Implement strict application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior indicative of buffer overflow exploitation. 3. Enforce network segmentation to limit the attack surface, especially for systems still running legacy OS versions. 4. Educate users on the risks of social engineering and phishing, as user interaction is required for exploitation. 5. Monitor system logs and Secure Boot status for anomalies that could indicate attempts to bypass boot security. 6. Employ hardware-based security features such as TPM and ensure Secure Boot is enabled and properly configured. 7. Where immediate OS upgrade is not feasible, consider virtual patching via intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. 8. Regularly review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving Secure Boot bypass and boot-level compromise.