CVE-2025-54092 is a race condition vulnerability classified under CWE-362, affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809, specifically within the Hyper-V virtualization component. The vulnerability stems from improper synchronization when multiple threads or processes concurrently access shared resources, leading to a race condition. This flaw allows an attacker with local authorized access to exploit the timing window to elevate their privileges on the affected system. The attacker does not require user interaction to exploit this vulnerability, but must have at least low-level privileges (local access) to trigger the race condition. Successful exploitation can compromise system confidentiality, integrity, and availability by granting higher privileges than intended, potentially allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated rights, manipulate system configurations, or disrupt services. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects high severity due to the combination of local attack vector, low attack complexity, required privileges, and the impact on all three security objectives. No public exploits or patches are currently available, but the vulnerability has been officially published and reserved since mid-2025. The affected version is Windows 10 1809 build 17763.0, which remains in use in some enterprise environments, particularly where legacy systems or applications require it. The vulnerability's presence in Hyper-V is critical because Hyper-V is widely used for virtualization in enterprise and cloud environments, increasing the potential attack surface. The race condition could be exploited to bypass security boundaries within virtualized environments, leading to broader compromise.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54092 can be significant, especially for those still operating Windows 10 Version 1809 in production environments. The ability for an attacker to elevate privileges locally could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical services, and potential lateral movement within networks. Organizations using Hyper-V for virtualization are particularly at risk, as the vulnerability could allow attackers to escape virtual machine isolation or compromise host systems. This is critical for sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, where confidentiality and integrity of data are paramount. The lack of user interaction requirement increases the risk of automated or stealthy exploitation once local access is gained. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the vulnerability's high severity and ease of exploitation mean that threat actors may develop exploits rapidly. European organizations with legacy systems or delayed patching cycles face increased exposure. Additionally, regulatory compliance frameworks such as GDPR emphasize protecting personal data, and privilege escalation vulnerabilities pose a direct threat to compliance and data protection obligations.

1. Prioritize upgrading or patching Windows 10 Version 1809 systems as soon as Microsoft releases an official patch for CVE-2025-54092. 2. Restrict local access to systems running Windows 10 1809 and Hyper-V to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of local exploitation. 3. Implement strict access controls and monitoring on Hyper-V hosts to detect unusual privilege escalation attempts or race condition exploitation patterns. 4. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of identifying suspicious local privilege escalation behaviors. 5. Where possible, migrate virtualized workloads to newer Windows versions or alternative hypervisor platforms with active support and security updates. 6. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments focusing on legacy systems and virtualization infrastructure. 7. Employ application whitelisting and least privilege principles to limit the impact of any successful exploitation. 8. Educate IT staff about the risks of race condition vulnerabilities and the importance of timely patch management. 9. Monitor threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploit code or attack campaigns targeting this vulnerability to enable rapid response.