CVE-2025-53804 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor) affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The flaw exists in the Windows Kernel, where an authorized attacker with local access and low privileges can exploit the vulnerability to disclose sensitive information that should otherwise be protected. The vulnerability does not require user interaction, making exploitation easier once local access is obtained. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium), reflecting the fact that the attack vector is local (AV:L), the attack complexity is low (AC:L), privileges required are low (PR:L), and no user interaction is needed (UI:N). The impact is limited to 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 extend to other components. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches have been released at the time of publication. The vulnerability could allow attackers to gain access to sensitive kernel or system information, which could be leveraged for privilege escalation or other attacks. Since Windows 10 Version 1809 is an older release, many organizations may have already upgraded, but legacy systems remain in use in some environments. The lack of a patch increases the urgency for mitigation through access controls and monitoring.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily threatens the confidentiality of sensitive information on systems running Windows 10 Version 1809. Exposure of kernel-level information could facilitate further attacks such as privilege escalation or targeted exploitation. Organizations with legacy systems in critical infrastructure, government, finance, or healthcare sectors may face increased risk if attackers gain local access. The vulnerability does not directly impact system integrity or availability, so operational disruption is unlikely. However, the information disclosure could lead to data breaches or compromise of sensitive data, which may have regulatory and reputational consequences under GDPR and other European data protection laws. The medium severity score reflects that exploitation requires local access and some privileges, limiting the attack surface to insiders or attackers who have already breached perimeter defenses. Nonetheless, the presence of unpatched legacy systems in European enterprises means this vulnerability could be leveraged in multi-stage attacks or insider threat scenarios.

1. Restrict local access to Windows 10 Version 1809 systems by enforcing strict physical and network access controls, including limiting administrative privileges and using endpoint security solutions to monitor local activities. 2. Implement application whitelisting and behavior monitoring to detect suspicious processes that may attempt to exploit kernel information disclosure. 3. Expedite migration from Windows 10 Version 1809 to supported and patched Windows versions to eliminate exposure to this vulnerability. 4. Monitor system logs and security alerts for unusual local access patterns or attempts to access sensitive kernel information. 5. Apply any security updates or patches released by Microsoft as soon as they become available. 6. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting exploitation attempts targeting kernel vulnerabilities. 7. Educate internal users and administrators about the risks of local privilege misuse and enforce least privilege principles. 8. Use virtualization or sandboxing for legacy applications that require Windows 10 Version 1809 to reduce exposure.