CVE-2025-47159 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The flaw lies within the Windows Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) Enclave, a security feature designed to isolate sensitive processes and data from the rest of the operating system. Specifically, this vulnerability is categorized as a Protection Mechanism Failure (CWE-693), indicating that the intended security controls within the VBS enclave are bypassed or improperly enforced. An authorized attacker with local access and low privileges can exploit this vulnerability to elevate their privileges to a higher level, potentially gaining administrative rights. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects the significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with the attack vector being local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L), and low privileges (PR:L), but no user interaction (UI:N). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), meaning the vulnerability affects only the vulnerable component without impacting other components. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and impact make it a critical concern for affected systems. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation and monitoring. This vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass security boundaries enforced by VBS, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, system compromise, and disruption of critical services.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-47159 can be substantial, especially for those relying on Windows 10 Version 1809 in environments where virtualization-based security is a key component of their defense-in-depth strategy. The ability for an attacker to elevate privileges locally undermines endpoint security, potentially allowing lateral movement, installation of persistent malware, or extraction of sensitive information. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure operators could face increased risks of data breaches, operational disruptions, and compliance violations under GDPR and other regulations. The vulnerability also threatens the integrity of systems that rely on VBS for secure boot, credential protection, and other security features. Given that Windows 10 Version 1809 is an older release, organizations still using it may be at heightened risk due to potentially reduced vendor support and delayed patching. This could lead to increased exposure to targeted attacks or insider threats exploiting this vulnerability to gain unauthorized control over systems.

1. Upgrade and Patch Management: Organizations should prioritize upgrading from Windows 10 Version 1809 to a more recent, supported Windows version where this vulnerability is patched. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, monitor Microsoft advisories closely for patches or workarounds. 2. Restrict Local Access: Limit local user accounts and enforce strict access controls to reduce the number of authorized users who can exploit this vulnerability. Implement least privilege principles rigorously. 3. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Deploy advanced EDR solutions capable of detecting unusual privilege escalation attempts and anomalous behavior within VBS environments. 4. Application Whitelisting and Hardening: Use application control policies to prevent unauthorized code execution and harden systems against exploitation attempts. 5. Network Segmentation: Isolate critical systems running vulnerable Windows versions to contain potential compromises and limit lateral movement. 6. User Awareness and Monitoring: Educate users about the risks of local privilege escalation and monitor logs for suspicious local activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Disable VBS if not required: If VBS is not essential for the organization's security posture, consider disabling it temporarily to reduce the attack surface until patches are available.