CVE-2025-53717 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-807, indicating reliance on untrusted inputs in a security decision within the Windows Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) Enclave component of Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2 (build 10.0.26200.0). VBS Enclave is designed to provide an isolated, secure environment for sensitive operations by leveraging hardware virtualization features. The flaw allows an authorized local attacker—someone with limited privileges on the affected system—to manipulate untrusted inputs that the VBS enclave uses to make security decisions. This manipulation can lead to privilege escalation, granting the attacker higher privileges than originally assigned. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.0 reflects a high severity, with attack vector local (AV:L), attack complexity high (AC:H), privileges required low (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require the attacker to have some level of access to the system. No public exploits or patches are currently available, but the vulnerability is published and recognized by Microsoft. This issue could be exploited to bypass security controls enforced by VBS, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of protected processes and data.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially those relying on Windows 11 25H2 with VBS enabled for endpoint security, virtualization isolation, or protection of sensitive workloads. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges locally, bypass security boundaries, and gain control over critical system components. This could lead to unauthorized access to confidential information, disruption of system availability, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are particularly vulnerable due to the sensitive nature of their data and the reliance on secure virtualization technologies. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high impact score necessitates urgent attention. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk from insider threats or malware that gains initial foothold with limited privileges.

1. Restrict and monitor local access to systems running Windows 11 Version 25H2, especially those with VBS enabled, to reduce the risk of unauthorized privilege escalation. 2. Implement strict endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting unusual privilege escalation attempts and anomalous behavior related to VBS components. 3. Enforce the principle of least privilege for all user accounts and services to minimize the attack surface. 4. Regularly audit and harden system configurations related to virtualization and enclave security features. 5. Prepare for rapid deployment of security patches from Microsoft once available by maintaining an up-to-date patch management process. 6. Consider temporarily disabling VBS on non-critical systems if operationally feasible until a patch is released, after assessing the security trade-offs. 7. Educate IT and security teams about the vulnerability specifics to enhance incident response readiness. 8. Utilize application whitelisting and control execution policies to prevent unauthorized code execution that could exploit this vulnerability.