CVE-2025-27472 is a vulnerability identified in Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1507 (build 10.0.10240.0) that involves a protection mechanism failure related to the Windows Mark of the Web (MOTW) security feature. MOTW is designed to mark files downloaded from the internet with a security zone identifier, which Windows and applications use to enforce security policies such as restricting script execution or limiting file access to mitigate risks from potentially unsafe content. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-693, which pertains to protection mechanism failures, indicating that the intended security controls are bypassed or ineffective. Specifically, this flaw allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass MOTW protections over a network without requiring privileges or authentication, although user interaction is necessary. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), no confidentiality impact (C:N), low integrity impact (I:L), low availability impact (A:L), and official remediation level (RL:O) with confirmed report confidence (RC:C). This means an attacker can remotely exploit this vulnerability to bypass security restrictions imposed by MOTW, potentially leading to limited integrity and availability impacts, such as unauthorized modification or disruption of affected files or processes. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, suggesting that mitigation may rely on workarounds or upgrading to newer Windows versions. The vulnerability affects an older Windows 10 release (1507), which is generally out of mainstream support, increasing the risk for systems that have not been updated or are in legacy environments.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-27472 depends largely on the presence of legacy Windows 10 Version 1507 systems within their infrastructure. Organizations that continue to operate outdated Windows 10 installations, especially in critical or network-exposed roles, may be vulnerable to attackers bypassing MOTW protections. This could lead to unauthorized execution or modification of files that were intended to be restricted, potentially facilitating further compromise, lateral movement, or disruption of services. Although the confidentiality impact is rated none, the integrity and availability impacts are low but non-negligible, meaning attackers could alter or disrupt data or processes, which could affect business operations or data trustworthiness. Given that exploitation requires user interaction, social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to trick users into triggering the vulnerability. European organizations with strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) must consider that even limited integrity or availability compromises could lead to compliance issues or reputational damage. Additionally, sectors with legacy systems such as manufacturing, healthcare, or government may be more exposed. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits over time.

To mitigate CVE-2025-27472 effectively, European organizations should prioritize upgrading or patching affected systems. Since the vulnerability affects Windows 10 Version 1507, which is an early release and no longer supported, organizations should migrate to a supported and updated Windows 10 or Windows 11 version where this issue is presumably resolved. In environments where immediate upgrade is not feasible, organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate legacy systems and reduce exposure to network-based attacks. Employ strict application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions that can detect or block suspicious file executions, especially those originating from untrusted sources. User education is critical to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that require user interaction to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should monitor network traffic and system logs for unusual activity related to file downloads or execution that might indicate attempts to bypass MOTW protections. Employing enhanced email filtering and web content filtering can reduce the likelihood of malicious files reaching end users. Finally, maintain an inventory of systems running legacy Windows versions to identify and remediate vulnerable endpoints proactively.