CVE-2024-30007 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows Server 2022, specifically the 23H2 Edition with Server Core installation. The vulnerability stems from improper privilege management within the Microsoft Brokering File System component. This flaw is classified under CWE-269, which indicates that the system does not properly restrict privileges, allowing an attacker with limited privileges (low-level privileges) to escalate their access rights. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with a complexity level that is low (AC:L) and requiring only low privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability scope is changed (S:C), meaning the exploit can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component, potentially impacting the entire system. Exploitation could allow an attacker to gain full control over the affected server, compromising sensitive data, modifying system configurations, or disrupting services. The vulnerability is present in version 10.0.25398.0 of Windows Server 2022 23H2 Server Core installation. No public exploits have been reported yet, and no patches have been linked at the time of this report. The Server Core installation is a minimalistic Windows Server deployment option commonly used in enterprise environments to reduce the attack surface and resource consumption, but this vulnerability undermines that security posture by enabling privilege escalation despite the reduced interface and services. Given the critical role of Windows Server 2022 in enterprise infrastructure, especially in data centers, cloud environments, and hybrid deployments, this vulnerability poses a significant risk if exploited.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-30007 could be substantial. Windows Server 2022 is widely deployed across various sectors including finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure. The Server Core installation is favored in environments prioritizing security and performance, such as cloud service providers and large enterprises. Successful exploitation would allow attackers to escalate privileges from a low-level user account to SYSTEM-level access, potentially leading to full system compromise. This could result in unauthorized data access, data manipulation, disruption of critical services, and lateral movement within networks. Given the scope change, the attacker could affect multiple components and services running on the server, amplifying the damage. The lack of required user interaction facilitates automated or remote exploitation in targeted attacks. Although no known exploits are currently active in the wild, the high CVSS score and the critical nature of the affected systems mean that threat actors may prioritize developing exploits. European organizations operating in regulated industries may face compliance risks and reputational damage if breaches occur due to this vulnerability.

1. Immediate deployment of official patches or updates from Microsoft once available is critical. Organizations should monitor Microsoft security advisories closely for patch releases addressing CVE-2024-30007. 2. Until patches are available, restrict access to Windows Server 2022 23H2 Server Core installations by enforcing strict network segmentation and limiting administrative access to trusted personnel only. 3. Implement robust monitoring and logging focused on privilege escalation attempts and unusual file system broker activity to detect potential exploitation attempts early. 4. Employ the principle of least privilege rigorously, ensuring that users and services operate with the minimum necessary permissions to reduce the attack surface. 5. Use application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block suspicious behavior related to privilege escalation. 6. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on privilege management controls within Windows Server environments. 7. Consider deploying additional security controls such as Microsoft Defender for Endpoint with advanced threat protection capabilities to identify and mitigate exploitation attempts. 8. Educate system administrators about this vulnerability and the importance of applying mitigations promptly, especially in environments using Server Core installations.