CVE-2024-30027 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The vulnerability arises from a double free condition in the NTFS file system driver. A double free occurs when a program attempts to free the same memory location twice, which can lead to memory corruption, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service. In this case, the flaw allows a local attacker with limited privileges (low-level privileges) to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM level without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability is exploitable locally (AV:L) with low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring only limited privileges (PR:L) and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope of the vulnerability is unchanged (S:U), but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning an attacker could fully compromise the affected system. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's characteristics and severity score (CVSS 7.8) indicate a significant risk, especially for systems still running this older Windows 10 version. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-415 (Double Free), which is a common memory management error that can be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks. No patches or mitigation links are currently provided, suggesting that organizations must monitor for updates from Microsoft closely. Given the NTFS file system's critical role in Windows OS operations, exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, making this vulnerability a critical concern for affected environments.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-30027 can be substantial, particularly for enterprises and government agencies still operating legacy Windows 10 Version 1809 systems. Successful exploitation allows attackers to elevate privileges from a low-privileged user to SYSTEM level, enabling full control over the affected machine. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical services, and the potential deployment of further malware or ransomware. Since NTFS is the default file system for Windows, the vulnerability affects a broad range of systems, including desktops, servers, and workstations. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and public administration are at heightened risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and the potential for operational disruption. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the ease of exploitation and high impact necessitate urgent attention. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks or by insider threats to bypass security controls, undermining trust in endpoint security and complicating incident response efforts.

1. Immediate prioritization of patch management: Although no patch links are currently provided, organizations should monitor Microsoft's official channels for the release of security updates addressing CVE-2024-30027 and deploy them promptly. 2. Restrict local access: Limit the number of users with local access to systems running Windows 10 Version 1809, especially those with low privileges, to reduce the attack surface. 3. Implement application whitelisting and endpoint protection: Use advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unusual memory operations or privilege escalation activities. 4. Harden NTFS permissions: Review and tighten NTFS permissions to ensure that users have only the minimum necessary access rights, reducing the potential impact of privilege escalation. 5. Network segmentation: Isolate legacy systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 from critical network segments to contain potential compromises. 6. Audit and monitor logs: Enable detailed auditing of privilege escalation events and monitor for suspicious activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Plan for upgrade: Develop and accelerate plans to upgrade or replace systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 with supported Windows versions that receive regular security updates, thereby eliminating exposure to this and similar vulnerabilities.