CVE-2024-38056 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) found in the Microsoft Windows Codecs Library component of Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The flaw arises when the codecs library improperly handles memory bounds during processing, allowing an attacker with local privileges to read memory outside the intended buffer boundaries. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information residing in adjacent memory areas. The vulnerability requires low attack complexity and privileges (local privileges required), but no user interaction is necessary. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N) indicates that the attack must be performed locally with low complexity and privileges, impacts confidentiality highly, but does not affect integrity or availability. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported as of the publication date. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2024 and published in July 2024. No official patch links are provided yet, suggesting that remediation may require updates from Microsoft or upgrading to newer Windows versions. This vulnerability primarily threatens confidentiality by potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized local users or malware running with limited privileges.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-38056 is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information on affected Windows 10 Version 1809 systems. This can compromise confidentiality of personal data, intellectual property, or other sensitive information, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that still operate legacy Windows 10 1809 systems are at higher risk. The vulnerability does not allow privilege escalation or system disruption but could be leveraged by local attackers or malware to gather intelligence for further attacks. Since Windows 10 1809 is an older release, many enterprises may have already migrated to newer versions, but those with legacy systems or specialized applications tied to this version remain vulnerable. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the medium severity score and high confidentiality impact warrant timely mitigation to prevent data breaches.

1. Apply any available security updates from Microsoft as soon as they are released for Windows 10 Version 1809. 2. If patches are not yet available, consider upgrading affected systems to a supported and fully patched Windows version (e.g., Windows 10 21H2 or later). 3. Restrict local access to critical systems by enforcing strict user account controls and limiting administrative privileges. 4. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious local activity that could exploit this vulnerability. 5. Conduct regular audits of legacy systems to identify and remediate outdated software versions. 6. Implement network segmentation to isolate legacy systems and reduce the attack surface. 7. Educate users about the risks of running untrusted code locally, as local privileges are required for exploitation. 8. Maintain comprehensive data encryption and access controls to minimize the impact of any potential data disclosure.