CVE-2025-48003 is a vulnerability identified in Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809, specifically affecting the BitLocker encryption feature. BitLocker is designed to protect data by providing full disk encryption, ensuring confidentiality and integrity of stored information. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-693, which relates to protection mechanism failures. In this case, the flaw allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass BitLocker's security protections through a physical attack vector. This means that an attacker with physical access to the device can circumvent the encryption safeguards without needing authentication or user interaction. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.8, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) shows that the attack requires physical access (AV:P), has low attack complexity (AC:L), does not require privileges or user interaction, and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a high degree. No known exploits are currently in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability's exploitation could involve techniques such as direct hardware manipulation, cold boot attacks, or other physical methods to bypass BitLocker’s encryption protections. Since Windows 10 Version 1809 is an older release, this vulnerability primarily affects legacy systems that have not been upgraded or patched to newer Windows versions.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially to entities relying on Windows 10 Version 1809 devices with BitLocker enabled for data protection. The ability to bypass BitLocker through physical access undermines the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data, including personal data protected under GDPR. This could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, and regulatory non-compliance penalties. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and defense, which often use BitLocker for endpoint encryption, are particularly vulnerable. The physical access requirement limits remote exploitation but increases risk in environments where devices may be lost, stolen, or accessed by unauthorized personnel. Additionally, the lack of available patches means organizations must rely on compensating controls until official fixes are released. The impact extends to availability as well, since attackers could manipulate or corrupt encrypted volumes, causing data loss or system downtime.

Organizations should prioritize upgrading affected systems from Windows 10 Version 1809 to a supported and patched Windows version where this vulnerability is addressed. Until patches are available, physical security controls must be strengthened to prevent unauthorized access to devices, including secure storage, access logging, and surveillance. Implementing hardware-based security modules such as TPM with PIN or startup key requirements can add layers of protection. Regularly auditing device inventories and ensuring lost or stolen devices are promptly reported and remotely wiped where possible is critical. Employing additional encryption at the file or application level can provide defense in depth. Organizations should also educate employees about the risks of device theft and enforce strict policies on device handling. Monitoring for unusual device access patterns and integrating endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Finally, maintaining up-to-date backups ensures data recovery in case of data corruption or loss.