CVE-2024-26228 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809, specifically version 10.0.17763.0. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-310, which relates to cryptographic issues, indicating a weakness in the implementation or use of cryptographic functions. This particular flaw allows for a security feature bypass within Windows Cryptographic Services. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8, reflecting a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L) and low privileges (PR:L), but no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). This means an attacker with limited privileges on a vulnerable system can exploit this flaw to bypass cryptographic protections, potentially decrypting or manipulating sensitive data, undermining system integrity, or disrupting availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability's presence in Windows Cryptographic Services suggests that cryptographic operations such as certificate validation, encryption, or signing could be compromised, leading to possible unauthorized data access or tampering. Given that Windows 10 Version 1809 is an older release, many organizations may still operate legacy systems running this version, increasing the risk of exploitation if not updated or mitigated.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for sectors relying heavily on Windows 10 Version 1809 for critical operations, such as government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and industrial control systems. The bypass of cryptographic protections can lead to unauthorized access to confidential information, manipulation of data integrity, and potential service disruptions. This could result in data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), financial losses, and reputational damage. The local attack vector implies that an attacker would need some level of access to the system, which could be achieved through other means such as phishing, insider threats, or lateral movement after initial compromise. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that the consequences of exploitation could be severe, affecting trust in digital communications and secure transactions. Organizations with legacy systems or insufficient patch management processes are particularly vulnerable. Additionally, the lack of a patch at the time of publication increases exposure.

Prioritize upgrading or migrating systems from Windows 10 Version 1809 to a supported and patched Windows version to eliminate the vulnerability. Implement strict access controls and monitoring to limit local access to systems running the affected version, reducing the risk of exploitation. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify suspicious activities indicative of attempts to exploit cryptographic services. Conduct regular audits of cryptographic configurations and certificates to detect anomalies that may result from exploitation. Enforce the principle of least privilege to minimize the number of users with local access rights capable of exploiting this vulnerability. Use application whitelisting and restrict execution of unauthorized code to prevent attackers from leveraging local access to exploit the vulnerability. Prepare incident response plans specifically addressing cryptographic service compromises, including forensic readiness to analyze potential breaches. Monitor vendor advisories closely for the release of patches or workarounds and apply them promptly once available.