CVE-2024-37989 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). It is classified under CWE-130, which involves improper handling of length parameter inconsistencies. The vulnerability specifically targets the Secure Boot security feature, allowing a potential security feature bypass. Secure Boot is a critical security mechanism designed to ensure that only trusted software is loaded during the system boot process, protecting against rootkits and boot-level malware. The flaw arises from improper validation or handling of length parameters, which can lead to inconsistent or incorrect processing of Secure Boot data structures. This inconsistency can be exploited by an attacker with network access (Attack Vector: Adjacent Network) and no privileges (PR:N), requiring only user interaction (UI:R) to bypass Secure Boot protections. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high), indicating that an attacker could execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, compromise system integrity, and potentially disrupt system availability. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the CVSS score of 8.0 reflects the significant risk posed by this vulnerability. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation and monitoring. The vulnerability's exploitation scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is limited to the vulnerable system without affecting other systems directly. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require prior authentication, increasing its risk profile. Overall, this vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the Secure Boot mechanism of Windows 10 1809, potentially allowing attackers to bypass fundamental security controls and compromise affected systems.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-37989 could be severe, especially for entities relying on Windows 10 Version 1809 in critical infrastructure, government, finance, healthcare, and industrial sectors. A successful bypass of Secure Boot could allow attackers to deploy persistent, stealthy malware at the boot level, evading traditional detection mechanisms and potentially leading to long-term system compromise. This could result in data breaches, intellectual property theft, disruption of services, and loss of trust. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, organizations could face regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The requirement for user interaction suggests phishing or social engineering could be vectors, increasing the risk in environments with less mature security awareness. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity and ease of exploitation (no privileges required) necessitate immediate attention. Organizations with legacy systems still running Windows 10 1809 are particularly vulnerable, as newer Windows versions are not affected. The potential for supply chain attacks or targeted espionage campaigns exploiting this vulnerability is significant, especially in geopolitically sensitive regions within Europe.

1. Immediate identification and inventory of all systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 within the organization. 2. Where possible, upgrade affected systems to a supported, patched Windows version that does not contain this vulnerability. 3. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, implement strict network segmentation and limit exposure of vulnerable systems to adjacent network threats. 4. Enhance user training and awareness to reduce the risk of social engineering or phishing attempts that could trigger user interaction required for exploitation. 5. Monitor network traffic and system logs for unusual boot-level activities or attempts to manipulate Secure Boot parameters. 6. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting boot-level anomalies. 7. Apply any interim mitigations or workarounds recommended by Microsoft once available, including registry or policy changes to harden Secure Boot configurations. 8. Maintain up-to-date backups and test recovery procedures to mitigate potential availability impacts. 9. Engage with Microsoft support channels for early access to patches or hotfixes as they become available. 10. Coordinate with national cybersecurity agencies or CERTs for threat intelligence sharing related to this vulnerability.