CVE-2024-30088 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-367, which corresponds to a Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition. This type of flaw occurs when a system checks a condition (such as permissions or resource state) and then uses the resource based on that check, but an attacker can alter the resource state between the check and use, leading to inconsistent or insecure behavior. In this case, the vulnerability resides in the Windows kernel, the core component responsible for managing system resources and enforcing security boundaries. Exploiting this race condition could allow an attacker with limited privileges (low privileges) to elevate their privileges to a higher level, potentially SYSTEM or kernel-level privileges. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.0, indicating a high severity. The vector string (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C) reveals that the attack requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a high degree (C:H/I:H/A:H). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the exploit code is partially available (E:P). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability was reserved in March 2024 and published in June 2024. No official patches or mitigation links are provided yet, indicating that organizations should monitor for updates from Microsoft. Given the nature of the vulnerability, an attacker could leverage it to bypass security controls, execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, and compromise the entire system. This poses a significant risk especially in environments where Windows 10 Version 1809 is still in use, such as legacy systems or specialized industrial setups.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-30088 can be substantial. Many enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure operators still run Windows 10 Version 1809 due to compatibility or operational constraints. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges on affected systems, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of services, and potential lateral movement within networks. This could compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical systems. In sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and public administration, where Windows 10 remains prevalent, the risk is amplified. Additionally, the high impact on availability could disrupt business continuity and critical services. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk, but the partial exploitability and high severity warrant proactive measures. European organizations must consider the regulatory implications under GDPR and NIS Directive, as exploitation could lead to data breaches and operational incidents requiring notification and remediation.

1. Immediate Inventory and Assessment: Identify all systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0) within the organization. Prioritize critical assets and those exposed to local user access. 2. Patch Management: Monitor Microsoft security advisories closely for the release of official patches addressing CVE-2024-30088. Apply patches promptly once available. 3. Access Controls: Restrict local user privileges to the minimum necessary, especially on systems running the affected OS version. Limit the number of users with local login rights. 4. Endpoint Protection: Deploy and update endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting suspicious kernel-level activities or privilege escalation attempts. 5. Network Segmentation: Isolate legacy Windows 10 Version 1809 systems from sensitive network segments to reduce potential lateral movement. 6. User Awareness and Policies: Educate users about the risks of executing untrusted code locally and enforce policies to prevent installation of unauthorized software. 7. Incident Response Preparedness: Update incident response playbooks to include detection and response steps for privilege escalation attempts related to TOCTOU race conditions. 8. Consider Upgrading: Plan and execute upgrades to supported Windows versions with active security support to reduce exposure to unpatched vulnerabilities. 9. Use of Virtualization or Sandboxing: Where legacy systems must be maintained, consider running them in controlled virtual environments to limit impact of compromise.