CVE-2024-30081 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-200, indicating exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. It affects Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0) and involves NTLM (NT LAN Manager) spoofing. NTLM is a legacy authentication protocol used in Windows environments. This vulnerability allows an attacker with local access and no privileges (PR:N) to perform a spoofing attack against the NTLM authentication mechanism, potentially causing the system to disclose sensitive information. The attack requires user interaction (UI:R), such as convincing a user to open a malicious file or link, but does not require prior authentication. The vulnerability does not affect system availability (A:N) but has a high impact on confidentiality (C:H) and integrity (I:H). The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have some form of local access to the target machine. The vulnerability is rated with a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.1 (high severity), reflecting the significant risk posed by unauthorized disclosure and potential data manipulation. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure necessitates interim mitigations to reduce risk. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where NTLM authentication is still in use and where sensitive data confidentiality is critical.

For European organizations, the exposure of sensitive information through this NTLM spoofing vulnerability can lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, and compromise of user credentials or session tokens. This can facilitate further lateral movement or privilege escalation within corporate networks. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are especially vulnerable due to the sensitivity of their data and regulatory requirements like GDPR. The local attack vector limits remote exploitation but insider threats or compromised endpoints could be leveraged by attackers. The integrity impact means attackers might manipulate authentication data, potentially undermining trust in identity verification processes. Although availability is not affected, the confidentiality and integrity impacts can cause significant operational and reputational damage. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits following public disclosure.

Since no official patches are currently available, European organizations should implement specific mitigations: 1) Restrict local access to Windows 10 Version 1809 systems by enforcing strict physical and logical access controls, including endpoint lockdown and user privilege minimization. 2) Disable or restrict NTLM authentication where feasible, transitioning to more secure protocols like Kerberos or implementing NTLM blocking policies via Group Policy. 3) Monitor network and endpoint logs for unusual NTLM authentication attempts or anomalies indicative of spoofing attacks using SIEM solutions. 4) Educate users to avoid interacting with suspicious files or links that could trigger the required user interaction for exploitation. 5) Plan and prioritize upgrading affected systems to supported Windows versions with active security updates. 6) Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. 7) Regularly audit and review authentication configurations and policies to ensure NTLM usage is minimized and controlled.