CVE-2024-30077 is a high-severity heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-122) affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The vulnerability resides in the Windows Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) component, which is responsible for enabling interprocess communication and embedding of objects between applications. This flaw allows an attacker to execute remote code by sending a specially crafted request that triggers the heap overflow, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges. The vulnerability requires network access (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), and privileges (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:R) is necessary to exploit it. The scope is unchanged (S:U), but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning a successful exploit could fully compromise the affected system. 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 June 2024. Given the nature of OLE and its integration in Windows, exploitation could be triggered through common vectors such as malicious documents or network messages, making it a significant threat to systems running this specific Windows 10 version, especially in environments where legacy systems remain operational.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, particularly for those still operating Windows 10 Version 1809, which is an older but still in-use release in some enterprises due to legacy application dependencies or delayed upgrade cycles. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data breaches, disruption of critical services, and lateral movement within corporate networks. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government agencies that rely on Windows 10 1809 systems for critical operations are at heightened risk. The requirement for user interaction suggests phishing or social engineering could be used to trigger the exploit, increasing the risk in environments with less mature security awareness. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means sensitive data could be exfiltrated or destroyed, and operational continuity could be severely affected. Additionally, the lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before widespread attacks emerge.

European organizations should prioritize identifying and inventorying all systems running Windows 10 Version 1809. Given the absence of an official patch link, organizations should monitor Microsoft security advisories closely for updates or emergency patches. In the interim, applying network-level protections such as blocking or filtering suspicious OLE-related traffic and restricting access to vulnerable systems can reduce exposure. Enhancing endpoint protection with behavior-based detection to identify anomalous heap overflow exploitation attempts is recommended. User awareness training to recognize and avoid phishing attempts that could trigger the vulnerability is critical. Organizations should also consider accelerating migration plans to supported Windows versions with active security updates. Employing application whitelisting and least privilege principles can limit the impact of potential exploitation. Finally, implementing robust network segmentation can prevent lateral movement if a system is compromised.