CVE-2025-25004 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) affecting Microsoft PowerShell on Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The flaw arises from inadequate enforcement of access control policies within PowerShell, allowing an authorized local user with limited privileges to escalate their privileges to a higher level, potentially SYSTEM or administrator. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have local access and some user interaction, such as executing a crafted PowerShell command or script. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.3 indicates a high-severity issue with local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:R). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, as successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, unauthorized data access, or disruption of services. Although no public exploits are known at this time, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a significant risk for environments that have not updated or mitigated this issue. The lack of patch links suggests that either a patch is pending or must be obtained through official Microsoft channels. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for organizations relying on Windows 10 Version 1809, which remains in use in some enterprise environments due to legacy application dependencies or delayed upgrade cycles.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-25004 is substantial. Successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise, enabling attackers to access sensitive data, disrupt operations, or deploy further malware. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are especially vulnerable due to the potential for data breaches or operational outages. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, as insider threats or attackers gaining initial footholds through phishing or other means could leverage this vulnerability for privilege escalation. Organizations running Windows 10 Version 1809 in Europe may face compliance risks if this vulnerability is exploited, particularly under GDPR regulations concerning data protection. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but delayed patching or ignoring this vulnerability could lead to targeted attacks. The high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts underscore the need for urgent attention in affected environments.

1. Apply official Microsoft patches or updates as soon as they become available for Windows 10 Version 1809 to address this vulnerability. 2. If patches are not yet available, restrict PowerShell usage through Group Policy by limiting execution policies and restricting script execution to signed scripts only. 3. Implement strict access controls and least privilege principles to minimize the number of users with local access and reduce the attack surface. 4. Monitor PowerShell logs and use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect unusual privilege escalation attempts or suspicious PowerShell activity. 5. Conduct regular audits of user privileges and remove unnecessary local accounts or administrative rights. 6. Educate users about the risks of executing untrusted scripts and enforce multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of initial compromise. 7. Consider upgrading affected systems to a supported and patched Windows version to eliminate exposure to legacy vulnerabilities. 8. Employ application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized execution of malicious scripts or binaries.