CVE-2025-54115 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 can be exploited by an authorized local attacker to elevate their privileges on the system. The attacker must have at least low-level privileges and local access to the machine but does not require user interaction to exploit the vulnerability. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.0, reflecting high severity due to the potential for complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack complexity is high, meaning exploitation requires specific conditions or knowledge, and the attacker must already have some privileges on the system. No public exploits or patches have been reported at the time of publication, indicating that organizations should prepare to deploy updates once available. The vulnerability affects Windows 10 Version 1809 build 10.0.17763.0, a version still in use in some enterprise environments, particularly where legacy systems persist. Hyper-V is widely used for virtualization in enterprise and government sectors, making this vulnerability a significant risk for environments relying on this technology. The flaw could allow attackers to bypass security boundaries within virtualized environments, potentially leading to broader system compromise.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54115 is considerable, especially for those relying on Windows 10 Version 1809 and Hyper-V virtualization. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges locally, potentially gaining administrative control over affected systems. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of services, and the ability to deploy further attacks such as malware or ransomware. Organizations in sectors with high virtualization usage, including finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, face increased risk. The vulnerability undermines the security of virtualized environments, which are often used to isolate workloads and protect sensitive information. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, exploitation could result in data breaches, operational downtime, and regulatory non-compliance under frameworks like GDPR. The lack of current public exploits reduces immediate risk but also means organizations must proactively prepare for potential future attacks once exploit code becomes available.

1. Restrict local access to systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 with Hyper-V enabled, limiting user privileges to the minimum necessary. 2. Monitor system logs and security events for unusual local privilege escalation attempts or suspicious behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 3. Implement strict access controls and network segmentation to reduce the attack surface and isolate critical systems. 4. Prepare to deploy official patches or security updates from Microsoft promptly once they become available; subscribe to Microsoft security advisories for timely notifications. 5. Consider upgrading affected systems to newer, supported Windows versions where this vulnerability is not present or has been addressed. 6. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. 7. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments focusing on virtualization infrastructure and privilege management. 8. Educate system administrators and security teams about the risks of race condition vulnerabilities and the importance of patch management in virtualized environments.