CVE-2025-24983 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) found in the Windows Win32 Kernel Subsystem specifically affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1507 (build 10.0.10240.0). This vulnerability allows an authorized local attacker with low privileges to elevate their privileges to a higher level, potentially SYSTEM level, by exploiting improper memory management in the kernel subsystem. Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to use memory after it has been freed, which can lead to memory corruption, arbitrary code execution, or system crashes. In this case, the attacker can leverage this flaw to execute code in kernel mode, bypassing security controls and gaining elevated privileges. The vulnerability requires local access and a high attack complexity due to the need for specific conditions to trigger the use-after-free. No user interaction is required, and the scope is unchanged, meaning the exploit affects only the vulnerable component without extending to other components. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.0, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits are currently known in the wild and no patches have been released yet, the vulnerability is officially published and recognized by CISA, indicating its seriousness and the need for mitigation. Given that Windows 10 Version 1507 is an early release version of Windows 10, it is likely that many systems have been upgraded, but legacy or specialized environments may still be running this version, making them vulnerable to this attack vector.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk primarily to legacy systems still operating on Windows 10 Version 1507. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges locally, potentially leading to full system compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical services, and lateral movement within networks. This is particularly concerning for sectors with legacy infrastructure such as manufacturing, healthcare, and government agencies where system upgrades may lag. The elevated privileges could enable attackers to disable security controls, install persistent malware, or exfiltrate confidential information, impacting data privacy and regulatory compliance under GDPR. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value assets or critical infrastructure, increasing the risk of operational disruption and reputational damage.

Given the absence of an official patch, European organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigations: 1) Identify and inventory all systems running Windows 10 Version 1507 using endpoint management tools to assess exposure. 2) Where feasible, upgrade affected systems to a supported and patched version of Windows 10 or later to eliminate the vulnerability. 3) Restrict local access to vulnerable systems by enforcing strict access controls, limiting administrative privileges, and using network segmentation to reduce the attack surface. 4) Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor and block suspicious activities indicative of privilege escalation attempts. 5) Implement strict user account control (UAC) policies and monitor logs for unusual privilege elevation events. 6) Until patches are available, consider deploying kernel-level exploit mitigations such as Control Flow Guard (CFG) and Kernel Patch Protection (PatchGuard) if supported. 7) Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential compromises. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on legacy system identification, controlled access, and advanced monitoring tailored to the vulnerability's characteristics.