CVE-2025-48800 is a vulnerability identified in Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809, specifically affecting the BitLocker drive encryption feature. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-693, which relates to protection mechanism failures. BitLocker is designed to protect data by providing encryption for entire volumes, preventing unauthorized access to data on lost or stolen devices. This vulnerability allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass BitLocker's security protections through a physical attack, meaning the attacker must have physical access to the affected device. 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), requires no privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a high degree (C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability does not require authentication and can be exploited without user interaction, but the physical access requirement limits remote exploitation. No known exploits are currently in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability stems from a failure in the protection mechanism of BitLocker, potentially allowing attackers to bypass encryption safeguards and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify data, or disrupt system availability.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on Windows 10 Version 1809 with BitLocker enabled to protect sensitive or regulated data. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, data tampering, and system downtime. This is particularly critical for sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, where data confidentiality and integrity are paramount. The physical access requirement means that the threat is more relevant in scenarios involving device theft, loss, or insider threats. Organizations with mobile workforces or those using laptops and portable devices are at higher risk. Additionally, the inability to currently patch this vulnerability increases exposure time. The compromise of BitLocker protection undermines trust in endpoint security and may lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR or other data protection laws if personal data is exposed.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should first verify if they are running Windows 10 Version 1809 with BitLocker enabled. Since no official patch is currently available, organizations should implement compensating controls: 1) Enforce strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to devices, including secure storage and access logging. 2) Use hardware-based security modules such as TPM (Trusted Platform Module) with PIN or startup key requirements to strengthen BitLocker protection. 3) Consider upgrading affected systems to a newer, supported Windows version where this vulnerability is not present or patched. 4) Implement full device inventory and tracking to quickly identify and respond to lost or stolen devices. 5) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious activities indicative of physical tampering. 6) Educate employees about the risks of device theft and the importance of physical security. 7) Restrict use of removable media and enforce encryption for backups to prevent data leakage. 8) Prepare incident response plans specifically addressing physical device compromise scenarios.