CVE-2025-54102 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability identified in the Windows Connected Devices Platform Service on Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The vulnerability stems from improper management of memory in the service, where an object is freed but later accessed, leading to undefined behavior. This flaw can be exploited by an authorized local attacker to elevate privileges on the affected system. Specifically, the attacker must have some level of access (local privileges) but does not require user interaction to trigger the exploit. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as it allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially taking full control of the system. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high severity, with attack vector local, low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and resulting in high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigations have been linked yet. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-416 (Use After Free), a common memory corruption issue that can lead to serious security breaches if exploited.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those still operating legacy or unpatched Windows 10 Version 1809 systems. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges locally, enabling them to bypass security controls, install persistent malware, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt critical services. This is particularly concerning for sectors with high-value data or critical infrastructure, such as finance, healthcare, government, and manufacturing. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk, but the presence of a high-severity vulnerability in a widely used OS version means that threat actors may develop exploits over time. Organizations relying on Windows 10 1809 in their endpoint fleets or legacy systems should be aware that this vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks or insider threat scenarios. The potential impact includes data breaches, operational disruption, and reputational damage.

Given the absence of an official patch at the time of this report, European organizations should take proactive steps to mitigate risk. First, they should inventory and identify all systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 17763.0) and prioritize upgrading to a supported and patched Windows version, as Windows 10 1809 is an older release with limited support. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, organizations should restrict local access to these systems to trusted users only, enforce strict access controls, and monitor for suspicious local privilege escalation attempts. Implementing application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions can help detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Additionally, disabling or restricting the Windows Connected Devices Platform Service where possible may reduce the attack surface. Organizations should stay alert for official patches or security advisories from Microsoft and apply updates promptly once available. Regular security awareness training to reduce insider threats and enforcing the principle of least privilege will further reduce exploitation likelihood.