CVE-2025-53140 is a use-after-free vulnerability classified under CWE-416 affecting the Kernel Transaction Manager in Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, leading to undefined behavior including potential code execution or privilege escalation. In this case, the flaw allows an attacker with local, low-level privileges to exploit the improper handling of memory in the kernel component responsible for managing transactional operations. By triggering this vulnerability, the attacker can elevate their privileges, potentially gaining SYSTEM-level access. The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.0 (high), reflecting the local attack vector (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), and the requirement for low privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high), meaning an attacker could fully compromise the system. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and unpatched, increasing the risk of future exploitation. The affected Windows 10 version 1809 is an older release, which may still be in use in some enterprise environments, especially those with legacy systems or delayed upgrade cycles. The lack of an available patch necessitates immediate risk mitigation strategies to prevent exploitation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, particularly to those running Windows 10 Version 1809 in production environments. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, allowing attackers to bypass security controls, access sensitive data, disrupt operations, or deploy malware such as ransomware. Critical infrastructure sectors, government agencies, and enterprises with legacy systems are especially vulnerable due to the potential for privilege escalation to SYSTEM level. The impact extends to confidentiality breaches, integrity violations through unauthorized changes, and availability disruptions from system instability or crashes. Given the high attack complexity and local access requirement, the threat is more relevant to insider threats or attackers who have already gained some foothold within the network. However, once exploited, the attacker could move laterally and escalate privileges, increasing the overall risk to the organization’s security posture.

1. Restrict local access to systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 by enforcing strict access controls and monitoring for unauthorized login attempts. 2. Implement application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 3. Prioritize upgrading affected systems to a supported and patched version of Windows 10 or later, as Windows 10 Version 1809 is out of mainstream support and unlikely to receive timely patches. 4. Apply any security updates or patches released by Microsoft as soon as they become available. 5. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments focusing on legacy systems to identify and remediate similar risks. 6. Educate internal users about the risks of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities and enforce the principle of least privilege to minimize potential attack vectors. 7. Employ network segmentation to limit the impact of a compromised host and reduce lateral movement opportunities.