CVE-2025-24048 is a high-severity heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809, specifically affecting the Windows Hyper-V role. This vulnerability arises from improper handling of memory buffers on the heap, which can lead to memory corruption. An authorized local attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) can exploit this flaw to elevate their privileges on the affected system without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high), indicating that successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining full control over the system. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have some level of access to the system already, but the low attack complexity (AC:L) suggests exploitation is straightforward once access is obtained. The scope remains unchanged (S:U), so the vulnerability affects only the vulnerable component without impacting other system components. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and rated with a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8, reflecting its seriousness. The absence of available patches at the time of disclosure increases the urgency for organizations to implement mitigations. The vulnerability is tied to Windows Hyper-V, a widely used virtualization platform in enterprise environments, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on virtualized infrastructure.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-24048 can be significant, especially those utilizing Windows 10 Version 1809 with Hyper-V enabled for virtualization or containerization. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges from a limited user account to SYSTEM-level access, potentially leading to full system compromise. This could result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical services, and lateral movement within corporate networks. Given the widespread use of Windows 10 in European enterprises and public sector organizations, the vulnerability poses a risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical IT systems. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, which often deploy Hyper-V for virtualization, may face increased risks of targeted attacks aiming to exploit this vulnerability for espionage, sabotage, or ransomware deployment. The local attack vector means that initial access is required, so the vulnerability could be leveraged in multi-stage attacks where an attacker gains initial foothold via phishing or other means and then escalates privileges using this flaw.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting local access to systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 with Hyper-V enabled, limiting the number of users with local accounts and enforcing strict access controls. 2. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block suspicious activities indicative of exploitation attempts. 3. Disable or uninstall Hyper-V role on systems where virtualization is not required to reduce the attack surface. 4. Monitor system logs and security telemetry for unusual privilege escalation attempts or memory corruption indicators. 5. Implement network segmentation to isolate critical systems and limit lateral movement opportunities. 6. Prepare for patch deployment by testing updates in controlled environments once Microsoft releases official patches. 7. Educate IT staff and users about the risks of local privilege escalation and enforce strong authentication and endpoint security policies to reduce initial access risks. 8. Consider upgrading affected systems to newer Windows versions that are fully supported and receive security updates regularly, as Windows 10 Version 1809 is an older release with limited support.