CVE-2025-50167 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-362 (Race Condition) affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809, specifically within the Hyper-V virtualization component. The vulnerability stems from improper synchronization when multiple threads or processes concurrently access shared resources, leading to a race condition. This flaw can be exploited by an authorized local attacker to elevate their privileges on the system, potentially gaining SYSTEM-level access. The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.0 (high), reflecting the vulnerability's significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, though exploitation requires local access and high attack complexity. No user interaction is needed, and the scope is unchanged, meaning the attacker gains elevated privileges on the same system. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in August 2025, with no known exploits in the wild and no patches currently available. Hyper-V is widely used in enterprise environments for virtualization, making this vulnerability particularly relevant for organizations relying on Windows 10 Version 1809. The race condition could allow attackers to bypass security controls and execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the entire system and any virtual machines hosted on it.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-50167 is significant, especially for those using Windows 10 Version 1809 with Hyper-V virtualization. Successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise, allowing attackers to access sensitive data, disrupt operations, or deploy further malware. This is particularly critical for sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, where virtualization is common and data sensitivity is high. The vulnerability could facilitate insider threats or lateral movement by attackers who have gained limited local access. Given that Windows 10 Version 1809 is an older release, some organizations may still be running it due to legacy application dependencies, increasing their exposure. The absence of patches and known exploits suggests a window of opportunity for attackers to develop exploits, emphasizing the need for proactive mitigation. The impact extends to cloud service providers and data centers in Europe that utilize Hyper-V for multi-tenant virtualization, potentially affecting service availability and confidentiality.

1. Immediately inventory and identify all systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 with Hyper-V enabled. 2. Restrict local access to affected systems to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of local exploitation. 3. Monitor system logs and security events for unusual privilege escalation attempts or suspicious Hyper-V activity. 4. Implement strict access controls and least privilege principles for users with Hyper-V management rights. 5. Disable or limit Hyper-V usage on systems where it is not essential, reducing the attack surface. 6. Plan and execute an upgrade strategy to move affected systems to a supported and patched Windows version, as Windows 10 Version 1809 is out of mainstream support. 7. Stay alert for official patches or security advisories from Microsoft and apply them promptly once available. 8. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting race condition exploitation techniques and privilege escalation behaviors. 9. Conduct internal security awareness training to highlight risks associated with local privilege escalation vulnerabilities. 10. For virtualized environments, consider additional isolation and segmentation controls to limit the impact of potential compromises.