CVE-2024-37988 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-130, which relates to improper handling of length parameter inconsistencies. This specific flaw affects the Secure Boot feature in Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). Secure Boot is a critical security mechanism designed to ensure that only trusted software is loaded during the system boot process, preventing rootkits and boot-level malware. The vulnerability arises from the operating system's failure to correctly validate or handle length parameters in certain Secure Boot operations, which can lead to a security feature bypass. The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.0 indicates high severity, with an attack vector of 'Adjacent Network' (AV:A), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and requiring user interaction (UI:R). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, meaning successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, bypass Secure Boot protections, and potentially compromise the entire system. Although no public exploits are reported yet, the vulnerability is critical due to the fundamental role of Secure Boot in system security. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2024 and published in July 2024, with no patches currently listed, indicating that organizations must monitor for updates and prepare mitigation strategies. The flaw primarily affects legacy Windows 10 systems, which remain in use in many enterprises and government environments.

The impact of CVE-2024-37988 on European organizations is significant, especially for those still operating Windows 10 Version 1809 in critical environments such as government, finance, healthcare, and industrial control systems. Exploitation could allow attackers to bypass Secure Boot protections, enabling the execution of unauthorized or malicious code during system startup. This could lead to persistent malware infections, rootkits, or complete system compromise, severely affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data and services. Given the low complexity and no privilege requirements, attackers could exploit this vulnerability remotely with minimal user interaction, increasing the risk of widespread attacks. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity demands urgent attention. European organizations with legacy systems face increased risk due to potential delays in patch deployment and the critical nature of Secure Boot in their security posture.

1. Monitor Microsoft security advisories closely and apply patches immediately once they become available for Windows 10 Version 1809. 2. Until patches are released, restrict network access to vulnerable systems by implementing strict firewall rules and network segmentation, especially limiting adjacent network access. 3. Enforce least privilege principles and reduce user interaction requirements by disabling unnecessary services and restricting user permissions on affected systems. 4. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous boot-time activities or attempts to bypass Secure Boot. 5. Conduct regular audits of system firmware and Secure Boot configurations to ensure integrity and detect unauthorized changes. 6. Consider upgrading affected systems to supported Windows versions with active security updates to reduce exposure to legacy vulnerabilities. 7. Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted content that could trigger exploitation attempts requiring user interaction.