CVE-2024-29064 is a vulnerability identified in Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809, specifically affecting the Hyper-V virtualization component. The root cause is classified under CWE-130, which pertains to improper handling of length parameter inconsistencies. This type of flaw typically arises when the software does not correctly validate or manage length parameters, potentially leading to buffer overflows or memory corruption. In this case, the vulnerability allows an attacker with local access to the system to trigger a denial of service (DoS) condition by exploiting the improper length parameter handling within Hyper-V. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.2, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring the attacker to have local access to the affected system, but no privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N) are necessary. The impact is limited to availability (A:H), meaning the attacker can cause the Hyper-V service or the host system to crash or become unresponsive, disrupting virtual machine operations. Confidentiality and integrity are not impacted. The vulnerability does not appear to be exploited in the wild yet, and no patches or exploit code are currently publicly available. The affected version is Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0), which is an older release of Windows 10, commonly used in some enterprise environments that have not upgraded to newer versions. Hyper-V is a widely used virtualization platform in enterprise and cloud environments, and disruption of Hyper-V services can impact hosted virtual machines and dependent services.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-29064 is the potential disruption of virtualized environments running on Windows 10 Version 1809 with Hyper-V enabled. This can lead to downtime of critical virtual machines, affecting business continuity, especially in sectors relying on legacy systems or specialized applications that have not migrated to newer Windows versions. Since the vulnerability allows denial of service without requiring elevated privileges or user interaction, an insider threat or compromised local user could exploit it to disrupt services. This could impact industries such as manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and public administration where virtualized infrastructure is common. However, the lack of remote exploitability limits the risk from external attackers. The vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity but can cause availability issues, potentially leading to operational delays and financial losses. Organizations with strict uptime requirements or those running critical workloads on affected systems should prioritize mitigation. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits over time.

1. Upgrade or Patch: Although no patches are currently linked, organizations should monitor Microsoft’s security advisories for updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 2. Upgrade Windows Version: Migrate systems from Windows 10 Version 1809 to a supported and updated Windows version where this vulnerability is not present. 3. Limit Local Access: Restrict local access to systems running Hyper-V to trusted personnel only, using strict access controls and monitoring. 4. Harden Hyper-V Hosts: Implement security best practices for Hyper-V hosts, including disabling unnecessary services and features, and applying principle of least privilege. 5. Monitor for Anomalies: Deploy monitoring solutions to detect unusual Hyper-V service crashes or system reboots that may indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Network Segmentation: Isolate Hyper-V hosts in secure network segments to reduce the risk of lateral movement if a local compromise occurs. 7. Incident Response Preparedness: Prepare incident response plans specifically for virtualization platform disruptions to minimize downtime if exploitation occurs. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access, proactive system upgrades, and operational monitoring tailored to the Hyper-V environment.