CVE-2024-37971 is a high-severity stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-121) affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). This vulnerability specifically relates to the Secure Boot security feature, which is designed to ensure that only trusted software is loaded during the boot process. A stack-based buffer overflow occurs when more data is written to a buffer located on the stack than it can hold, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory. In this case, the overflow can lead to a security feature bypass, undermining the integrity of Secure Boot. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.0, indicating high severity. The vector string (AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) shows that the attack requires adjacent network access (AV:A), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), but requires user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk because successful exploitation could allow an attacker to bypass Secure Boot protections, potentially enabling the execution of unauthorized code early in the boot process. This could lead to persistent malware infections, rootkits, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2024 and published in July 2024, but no patches have been linked yet, indicating that affected systems remain vulnerable. Since Windows 10 Version 1809 is an older release, it may still be in use in some enterprise environments, especially where legacy applications or hardware compatibility is a concern.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a critical risk to endpoint security, particularly for those still running Windows 10 Version 1809. Compromise of Secure Boot integrity can allow attackers to bypass firmware-level protections, leading to persistent and stealthy malware infections that are difficult to detect or remove. This can result in data breaches, intellectual property theft, disruption of business operations, and potential regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal data is exposed. Organizations in sectors with high security requirements—such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure—are especially at risk. The requirement for user interaction and network adjacency means targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to exploit this vulnerability within corporate networks. The lack of available patches increases the window of exposure, and delayed remediation could lead to exploitation once proof-of-concept or weaponized exploits emerge. Additionally, the impact on availability and integrity could disrupt critical services and damage trust in IT infrastructure.

European organizations should prioritize identifying and inventorying all systems running Windows 10 Version 1809. Given the absence of a patch, immediate mitigation steps include: 1) Restricting network access to vulnerable systems, especially limiting exposure to untrusted networks or segments; 2) Enhancing user awareness and training to reduce the risk of social engineering or phishing attacks that could trigger exploitation; 3) Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts; 4) Enforcing strict Secure Boot policies and verifying firmware integrity regularly; 5) Planning and executing an upgrade strategy to move affected systems to supported Windows versions with active security updates; 6) Applying network segmentation to isolate legacy systems; 7) Monitoring threat intelligence feeds for emerging exploit code or indicators of compromise related to CVE-2024-37971; 8) Implementing application whitelisting and restricting execution of unauthorized code to reduce attack surface. Organizations should also engage with Microsoft support channels for any forthcoming patches or workarounds.