CVE-2025-49724 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) found in the Windows Connected Devices Platform Service on Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). This vulnerability allows an unauthorized attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code over a network without requiring privileges, although user interaction is necessary. The flaw arises from improper handling of memory in the Connected Devices Platform Service, leading to a use-after-free condition where the service accesses memory after it has been freed. Exploiting this vulnerability could enable attackers to execute code in the context of the affected service, potentially leading to full system compromise, including complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability loss. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting the critical impact and ease of network-based exploitation with low attack complexity and no privileges required. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in July 2025, indicating recent discovery. The affected product is Windows 10 Version 1809, which is an older but still in-use version of Windows 10, often found in legacy enterprise environments. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction, which may limit automated mass exploitation but still poses a significant risk, especially in targeted attacks or phishing campaigns. Given the nature of the Connected Devices Platform Service, which handles device connectivity and synchronization, exploitation could also disrupt device communication and availability.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant threat, especially to those still operating legacy Windows 10 Version 1809 systems, which are common in industrial, governmental, and critical infrastructure sectors due to long upgrade cycles. Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution, enabling attackers to deploy malware, ransomware, or conduct espionage by gaining persistent access. The compromise of confidentiality could expose sensitive personal data protected under GDPR, leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Integrity loss could affect critical business operations, while availability impacts could disrupt services relying on connected devices, such as IoT deployments or enterprise device management. The network-based attack vector increases the risk of lateral movement within corporate networks, amplifying the potential damage. The requirement for user interaction suggests phishing or social engineering could be used as an attack vector, which remains a common threat vector in Europe. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation before widespread exploitation occurs.

European organizations should prioritize identifying and inventorying systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 to assess exposure. Immediate mitigation steps include: 1) Applying any forthcoming official Microsoft patches as soon as they are released. 2) Implementing network segmentation to isolate legacy systems and limit exposure to untrusted networks. 3) Enhancing email and web filtering to reduce the risk of phishing attacks that could trigger user interaction exploitation. 4) Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for anomalous behavior related to the Connected Devices Platform Service. 5) Disabling or restricting the Connected Devices Platform Service on systems where it is not essential, reducing the attack surface. 6) Enforcing strict user privilege management and multi-factor authentication to limit the impact of compromised accounts. 7) Conducting user awareness training focused on phishing and social engineering risks. 8) Planning and accelerating upgrades from Windows 10 Version 1809 to supported, patched versions to eliminate exposure to this and other legacy vulnerabilities.