CVE-2024-30035 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability identified in the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) Core Library component of Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The vulnerability is classified as a Use After Free (CWE-416) flaw, which occurs when the software improperly handles memory by accessing or manipulating memory after it has been freed. This can lead to memory corruption, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges or cause a denial of service. The vulnerability requires low attack complexity and low privileges (local authenticated user), but no user interaction is needed to exploit it. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access to the system, and privileges required are low (PR:L), indicating that a standard user account could exploit this flaw to escalate privileges. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system at a high level (C:H/I:H/A:H). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in March 2024 and published in May 2024. The DWM Core Library is critical for rendering the graphical user interface, so exploitation could compromise system stability and security, potentially allowing attackers to gain SYSTEM-level privileges from a lower-privileged account, facilitating further lateral movement or persistence within affected environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially in environments where Windows 10 Version 1809 remains in use, such as legacy systems in industrial, governmental, or critical infrastructure sectors. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges from a standard user to SYSTEM level, undermining endpoint security controls and potentially enabling deployment of malware, ransomware, or data exfiltration tools. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means sensitive data could be exposed or altered, and system availability could be disrupted. Organizations with strict regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR) could face compliance issues if breaches occur due to this vulnerability. Additionally, sectors with high-value targets such as finance, healthcare, and public administration are at increased risk because attackers could leverage this flaw to gain persistent, high-level access. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as proof-of-concept exploits may emerge rapidly given the vulnerability’s characteristics.

1. Prioritize upgrading or patching affected systems: Although no official patch link is provided yet, organizations should monitor Microsoft’s security advisories closely and apply patches immediately upon release. 2. Implement strict access controls: Limit local user accounts with standard privileges and restrict unnecessary local access to critical systems running Windows 10 Version 1809. 3. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behavior indicative of privilege escalation attempts. 4. Conduct regular audits to identify and remediate legacy systems still running Windows 10 Version 1809, planning migration to supported Windows versions with ongoing security updates. 5. Use network segmentation to isolate legacy systems from sensitive data stores and critical infrastructure to reduce lateral movement opportunities. 6. Enforce the principle of least privilege for all users and services to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. 7. Educate IT staff on this specific vulnerability to recognize potential exploitation signs and respond promptly. 8. Employ memory protection technologies such as Control Flow Guard (CFG) and Data Execution Prevention (DEP) where applicable to mitigate exploitation of use-after-free vulnerabilities.