CVE-2025-53799 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809, specifically affecting the Windows Imaging Component (WIC). The vulnerability arises from the use of an uninitialized resource within WIC, which can lead to unauthorized local information disclosure. An uninitialized resource means that certain memory or data structures are accessed before being properly set or cleared, potentially exposing sensitive information that resides in memory. The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R), indicating that an attacker must trick a user into performing some action to trigger the flaw. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access to the system. The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity or availability. The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the vulnerability affects only the vulnerable component and does not propagate beyond it. No known exploits are currently in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-908, which relates to the use of uninitialized resources, a common programming error that can lead to information leakage. Since Windows Imaging Component is used for image processing tasks, any application or service relying on WIC on Windows 10 Version 1809 could be impacted if an attacker gains local access and convinces a user to interact with a crafted image or related content. Given the age of Windows 10 Version 1809 (released in late 2018), many organizations may have moved to newer versions, but legacy systems or specialized environments may still be running this version, exposing them to this vulnerability.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-53799 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information on affected Windows 10 Version 1809 systems. Since the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, the risk is somewhat mitigated in environments with strict access controls and user awareness. However, in scenarios such as shared workstations, kiosks, or environments where users might open untrusted images or files, attackers could exploit this flaw to leak confidential data. This could lead to exposure of sensitive corporate information, intellectual property, or personal data, potentially violating GDPR requirements and resulting in regulatory penalties. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so it is less likely to cause operational disruption. However, information disclosure can be a stepping stone for further attacks or espionage, especially in sectors handling sensitive data such as finance, healthcare, or government. Organizations relying on legacy Windows 10 Version 1809 systems should be particularly cautious, as these systems may lack other recent security improvements and patches.

1. Upgrade affected systems to a supported and fully patched version of Windows 10 or later, as Windows 10 Version 1809 is out of mainstream support and may not receive timely patches. 2. Until an official patch is released, restrict local access to systems running Windows 10 Version 1809, especially in high-risk environments. 3. Implement strict user privilege management to limit the number of users with local access and reduce the likelihood of exploitation. 4. Educate users about the risks of opening untrusted images or files, emphasizing caution with files from unknown or untrusted sources. 5. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions that can detect or block suspicious activities related to image processing components. 6. Monitor systems for unusual local activity or attempts to exploit image processing functionalities. 7. If possible, disable or restrict the use of Windows Imaging Component in environments where it is not essential, to reduce the attack surface. 8. Maintain an inventory of systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 to prioritize remediation efforts.