CVE-2024-30087 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20, indicating improper input validation within the Win32k component, a core part of the Windows graphical subsystem responsible for managing windowing and user interface elements. Improper input validation flaws can allow an attacker with limited privileges (low-level user privileges) to manipulate inputs in a way that leads to unauthorized privilege escalation. Specifically, this vulnerability allows an attacker who already has local access with limited privileges to execute specially crafted code or commands that the system improperly processes, resulting in the attacker gaining higher privileges, potentially SYSTEM-level access. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects a high severity, with an attack vector limited to local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is rated high (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no patch links are provided yet, indicating that mitigation may rely on workarounds or awaiting official updates. This vulnerability is particularly critical because it can be exploited without user interaction and with relatively low privileges, making it a significant risk for local users or malware that has gained initial foothold on affected systems.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-30087 can be substantial. Many enterprises and public sector entities still operate legacy Windows 10 Version 1809 systems, especially in industrial, healthcare, and government environments where upgrading is slower due to compatibility or regulatory constraints. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could escalate privileges from a limited user account to full administrative control, enabling lateral movement, deployment of ransomware, data exfiltration, or disruption of critical services. This could lead to severe data breaches, operational downtime, and compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that sensitive personal data and critical infrastructure could be compromised. Moreover, since the attack vector is local, insider threats or malware that gains initial access through phishing or other means could leverage this vulnerability to deepen their control over affected systems. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the risk remains high given the ease of exploitation and potential damage.

Given the lack of an official patch at the time of analysis, European organizations should take immediate and specific mitigation steps beyond generic advice: 1) Identify and inventory all Windows 10 Version 1809 systems in the environment using endpoint management tools. 2) Restrict local user privileges strictly to the minimum necessary, applying the principle of least privilege to reduce the pool of accounts that can exploit this vulnerability. 3) Implement application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor and block suspicious Win32k subsystem interactions or privilege escalation attempts. 4) Harden systems by disabling or restricting access to legacy or unnecessary components that interact with Win32k where feasible. 5) Increase monitoring and logging of local privilege escalation attempts and unusual process behavior on affected systems. 6) Prepare for rapid deployment of patches once Microsoft releases an official fix by testing updates in controlled environments. 7) Educate users and administrators about the risk of local privilege escalation and enforce strict controls on software installation and execution. 8) Consider network segmentation to isolate legacy systems and limit lateral movement opportunities. These targeted actions will help reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact until a patch is available.