CVE-2024-30090 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-822, which involves untrusted pointer dereference. This type of flaw occurs when the software dereferences a pointer that can be controlled or influenced by an attacker, leading to potential memory corruption or unauthorized code execution. Specifically, this vulnerability resides in the Microsoft Streaming Service component of Windows 10 1809. An attacker with limited privileges (low-level privileges) can exploit this flaw locally (as indicated by the CVSS vector AV:L - Attack Vector: Local) to elevate their privileges to a higher level, potentially SYSTEM or administrator level, without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The attack complexity is high (AC:H), meaning exploitation requires specific conditions or knowledge, and the attacker must already have some level of access (PR:L - Privileges Required: Low). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating that successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise, including unauthorized data access, modification, and disruption of system operations. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches are linked yet, suggesting that mitigation may rely on workarounds or system hardening until an official patch is released. The vulnerability was reserved in March 2024 and published in June 2024, reflecting recent discovery and disclosure. Given the affected product is Windows 10 Version 1809, which is an older version of Windows 10, organizations still running this version are at risk. The vulnerability's nature as an elevation of privilege flaw means it can be chained with other vulnerabilities or used by attackers who have gained initial access to escalate their control over the system.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-30090 can be significant, especially for those still operating legacy systems running Windows 10 Version 1809. Elevation of privilege vulnerabilities allow attackers who have limited access—such as through a compromised user account or a less privileged service—to gain administrative control over affected systems. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical services, and deployment of further malware or ransomware. Given the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, exploitation could result in data breaches, operational downtime, and compliance violations under regulations like GDPR. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure in Europe are particularly vulnerable due to the sensitivity of their data and the critical nature of their operations. Additionally, the lack of user interaction required for exploitation increases the risk of automated or stealthy attacks within internal networks. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, as threat actors may develop exploits following public disclosure. Organizations that have not updated or migrated from Windows 10 Version 1809 are at elevated risk, especially if they have weak internal access controls or insufficient endpoint protection.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on upgrading affected systems from Windows 10 Version 1809 to a more recent, supported version of Windows 10 or Windows 11, as Microsoft typically backports security fixes to supported versions first. 2. Until patches are available, restrict local access to systems running Windows 10 1809 to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of local exploitation. 3. Implement strict access controls and least privilege principles to limit the ability of low-privilege users to execute code or access sensitive components like the Microsoft Streaming Service. 4. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for suspicious local privilege escalation attempts and anomalous behavior related to streaming service processes. 5. Use application whitelisting and system integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes or execution of unexpected code. 6. Regularly audit and harden system configurations, including disabling unnecessary services or features related to streaming if not required. 7. Monitor security advisories from Microsoft and apply official patches promptly once released. 8. Conduct internal vulnerability assessments and penetration tests focusing on privilege escalation vectors to identify and remediate similar weaknesses proactively.