CVE-2025-47159 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The flaw resides in 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 under CWE-693, which indicates a failure in protection mechanisms. An authorized attacker with local access can exploit this weakness to elevate their privileges on the affected system. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects a high impact, with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). This means that once an attacker has some level of local access, they can leverage this vulnerability to gain full control over the system, potentially bypassing critical security boundaries enforced by VBS. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and impact suggest that exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, and disruption of services. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation and risk management.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-47159 can be significant, especially in sectors relying heavily on Windows 10 Version 1809 systems with VBS enabled, such as government, finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated rights, access sensitive data, disable security controls, and persist undetected. This undermines the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical systems and data. Given the high impact on all three security pillars, organizations could face data breaches, operational disruptions, and compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR. The local attack vector implies that attackers need some initial access, which could be obtained through other means like phishing or insider threats, making this vulnerability a potent escalation path. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity demands immediate attention to prevent potential targeted attacks.

1. Upgrade and Patch: Although no patches are currently listed, organizations should monitor Microsoft’s security advisories closely and apply any forthcoming updates promptly. 2. Limit Local Access: Restrict local user accounts and enforce strict access controls to minimize the number of users with local privileges on Windows 10 Version 1809 systems. 3. Disable or Restrict VBS if feasible: If VBS is not critical for the environment, consider disabling it temporarily until a patch is available, balancing security trade-offs. 4. Implement Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Deploy advanced monitoring tools capable of detecting unusual privilege escalation attempts and anomalous behavior related to VBS components. 5. Harden Systems: Apply principle of least privilege, disable unnecessary services, and enforce strong authentication mechanisms to reduce attack surface. 6. Network Segmentation: Isolate critical systems to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 7. User Training: Educate users about phishing and social engineering to prevent initial footholds that could lead to local access. 8. Incident Response Preparedness: Update incident response plans to include scenarios involving local privilege escalation via VBS failures.