CVE-2025-47159 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809, specifically affecting build 10.0.17763.0. The vulnerability stems from a protection mechanism failure within the Windows Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) Enclave. VBS is a security feature that leverages hardware virtualization to create isolated memory regions, protecting sensitive processes and data from tampering or compromise by malicious code running in the operating system. The failure in this protection mechanism allows an authorized attacker—meaning someone with some level of legitimate access to the system—to elevate their privileges locally without requiring user interaction. This elevation of privilege can lead to full system compromise, as the attacker could gain administrative rights, bypass security controls, and execute arbitrary code with high integrity and confidentiality impact. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects the vulnerability’s significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with relatively low attack complexity and the need for only limited privileges to exploit. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability’s nature and impact make it a critical concern for organizations still running this Windows version. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-693, which relates to protection mechanism failures, indicating that the security controls designed to isolate and protect sensitive operations within the VBS enclave are insufficient or flawed, allowing privilege escalation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-47159 can be substantial, especially for those relying on Windows 10 Version 1809 in critical infrastructure, government, finance, healthcare, and enterprise environments. Privilege escalation vulnerabilities enable attackers who have gained limited access—such as through phishing, insider threats, or compromised user accounts—to escalate their privileges to administrative levels, potentially leading to full system compromise. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of services, and the deployment of further malicious payloads such as ransomware or espionage tools. Given that VBS is often used to protect sensitive operations and data, its compromise undermines trust in endpoint security. European organizations with compliance obligations under GDPR and other data protection regulations face additional risks related to data breaches and regulatory penalties. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for mitigation, but the vulnerability’s high severity necessitates urgent attention to prevent future exploitation.

1. Immediate Upgrade: Organizations should prioritize upgrading from Windows 10 Version 1809 to a more recent, supported Windows version where this vulnerability is patched or mitigated. Microsoft typically addresses such vulnerabilities in newer releases or security updates. 2. Apply Security Updates: Although no patch links are provided, organizations should monitor Microsoft’s official security advisories and apply any released patches or cumulative updates addressing this vulnerability as soon as they become available. 3. Limit Privileged Access: Restrict local administrative privileges strictly to necessary personnel and use the principle of least privilege to minimize the risk of exploitation by authorized users. 4. Enable Enhanced Security Features: Where possible, enable additional security features such as Credential Guard and Device Guard, which complement VBS and can provide layered protection. 5. Monitor and Audit: Implement robust monitoring of local privilege escalation attempts, including event log analysis and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, to detect suspicious activities early. 6. Network Segmentation: Isolate critical systems running vulnerable Windows versions to reduce the attack surface and limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 7. User Awareness and Training: Educate users about the risks of privilege escalation and the importance of safeguarding credentials and access rights.