CVE-2025-53724 is a high-severity local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The vulnerability arises from a type confusion issue (CWE-843) within the Windows Push Notifications component. Type confusion occurs when a program accesses a resource using an incompatible type, leading to unpredictable behavior. In this case, an authorized attacker with limited local privileges can exploit this flaw to elevate their privileges on the affected system. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and has low attack complexity, but it does require the attacker to have some level of local access (PR:L). The impact is significant, with confidentiality, integrity, and availability all rated as high impact, meaning the attacker could gain full control over the system, potentially accessing sensitive data, modifying system configurations, or disrupting system operations. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's characteristics and high CVSS score (7.8) indicate a strong potential for exploitation once a reliable exploit is developed. The vulnerability was published on August 12, 2025, and no official patches or mitigations have been linked yet, increasing the urgency for affected organizations to monitor updates and apply fixes promptly once available. This vulnerability specifically targets Windows 10 Version 1809, which is an older version of Windows 10, so systems running this version remain at risk until patched or upgraded.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-53724 can be substantial. Many enterprises and government agencies still operate legacy Windows 10 systems, including version 1809, due to compatibility or operational constraints. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain elevated privileges on critical endpoints, enabling lateral movement, data exfiltration, or deployment of ransomware and other malware. This could lead to significant operational disruption, data breaches involving personal or sensitive information protected under GDPR, and financial losses. The ability to escalate privileges locally means that even users with limited access or compromised accounts could leverage this flaw to gain administrative control, increasing the risk of insider threats or attacks following initial compromise. Given the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, public administration, and critical infrastructure are particularly at risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the threat landscape could rapidly evolve once exploit code becomes publicly available.

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-53724, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Identify and inventory all systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 to assess exposure. 2) Prioritize upgrading these systems to a supported and patched version of Windows 10 or Windows 11, as Microsoft typically provides security fixes in newer releases. 3) Until patches are available, restrict local user permissions to the minimum necessary, especially limiting access to accounts that could be used to exploit this vulnerability. 4) Implement application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious local privilege escalation attempts. 5) Enforce strict network segmentation to limit lateral movement from compromised endpoints. 6) Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential exploitation. 7) Monitor Microsoft security advisories closely for the release of patches or workarounds and apply them immediately upon availability. 8) Educate IT staff about the vulnerability and the importance of minimizing local administrative access.