CVE-2025-47969 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in Microsoft Windows 11 version 22H2 (build 10.0.22621.0) that involves the exposure of sensitive information through the Windows Hello authentication framework. Specifically, this vulnerability falls under CWE-200, which pertains to the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. The flaw allows an attacker with authorized local access and high privileges to disclose sensitive information without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability but compromises confidentiality by leaking sensitive data. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.4, reflecting a local attack vector with low complexity, requiring high privileges but no user interaction, and resulting in high confidentiality impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability's exploitation scope is limited to local actors who already have elevated privileges on the affected system, which reduces the attack surface but still poses a risk in environments where multiple users share systems or where privilege escalation is possible. The sensitive information exposed could potentially include biometric data or authentication tokens managed by Windows Hello, which could facilitate further attacks or unauthorized access if leveraged by attackers.

For European organizations, the exposure of sensitive information via Windows Hello could lead to significant confidentiality breaches, especially in sectors relying heavily on biometric authentication for secure access, such as finance, healthcare, and government. Although exploitation requires high privileges, insider threats or attackers who have gained elevated access through other means could leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive authentication data. This could undermine trust in biometric authentication systems, potentially leading to unauthorized access to critical systems or data. Additionally, organizations with shared workstations or those employing Windows Hello for multi-factor authentication may face increased risk of lateral movement or privilege escalation attacks. The lack of user interaction requirement means that once an attacker has the necessary privileges, they can exploit the vulnerability stealthily, increasing the risk of undetected data leakage. Given the widespread adoption of Windows 11 in enterprise environments across Europe, this vulnerability could affect a broad range of organizations, potentially impacting compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR if biometric or personal data is exposed.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Restrict and monitor administrative and high-privilege accounts rigorously to minimize the risk of unauthorized local access. 2) Employ strict access controls and auditing on systems running Windows 11 version 22H2 to detect any unusual privilege escalations or local access attempts. 3) Temporarily disable or limit the use of Windows Hello on shared or less secure devices until a patch is released. 4) Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for suspicious activities related to Windows Hello components. 5) Enforce strong physical security controls to prevent unauthorized local access to devices. 6) Educate IT staff and users about the risks associated with privilege misuse and the importance of safeguarding credentials. 7) Stay alert for official patches or updates from Microsoft and apply them promptly once available. 8) Consider implementing additional layers of authentication or encryption for sensitive data to reduce reliance on Windows Hello alone.