CVE-2024-38151 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified as an out-of-bounds read (CWE-125) affecting Microsoft Windows 11 Version 24H2, specifically build 10.0.26100.0. This vulnerability exists within the Windows kernel and allows an attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) and local access (AV:L) to read memory outside the intended bounds without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability leads to an information disclosure where sensitive kernel memory contents could be exposed, potentially leaking confidential information such as cryptographic keys, passwords, or other sensitive data stored in kernel memory. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity due to the high confidentiality impact (C:H), no impact on integrity or availability (I:N, A:N), and the requirement for local privileges and low attack complexity (AC:L). The vulnerability does not require user interaction and the scope remains unchanged (S:U). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that the vulnerability is newly disclosed and may be under active investigation or pending remediation. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2024 and published in August 2024. Given its kernel-level nature, exploitation could provide attackers with access to sensitive system information that could facilitate further privilege escalation or lateral movement within affected systems.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality of sensitive data on Windows 11 Version 24H2 systems. Organizations with large deployments of Windows 11 24H2 could see exposure of sensitive kernel memory information if local attackers or malware gain limited access to affected machines. This could lead to leakage of credentials or cryptographic material, increasing the risk of subsequent attacks such as privilege escalation or persistent footholds. Sectors with high-value targets, such as government, finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, could be particularly impacted if attackers leverage this vulnerability as part of multi-stage attacks. However, since exploitation requires local access and no remote vector is available, the threat is more relevant in environments where insider threats, compromised endpoints, or malware with local execution capabilities exist. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but organizations should prepare for potential future exploitation attempts. The vulnerability could also affect virtualized environments running Windows 11 24H2, impacting cloud or hybrid deployments common in European enterprises.

To mitigate CVE-2024-38151, European organizations should: 1) Monitor Microsoft security advisories closely and apply official patches promptly once released, as no patch links are currently available. 2) Enforce strict local access controls and limit administrative privileges to reduce the risk of local exploitation. 3) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect suspicious local activity or attempts to access kernel memory. 4) Harden systems by disabling unnecessary local accounts and services that could be leveraged to gain local access. 5) Use application whitelisting and privilege management to prevent unauthorized code execution with local privileges. 6) Conduct regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focusing on local privilege escalation paths. 7) Educate users and administrators about the risks of local attacks and the importance of maintaining updated systems. 8) In virtualized or cloud environments, ensure hypervisor and host OS security is maintained to prevent local compromise of Windows 11 VMs. These steps go beyond generic patching by emphasizing local access control, monitoring, and proactive detection to reduce exploitation likelihood.