CVE-2025-55332 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-841, indicating improper enforcement of behavioral workflow within Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2's BitLocker encryption feature. BitLocker is designed to protect data confidentiality by encrypting volumes and requiring authentication or hardware-based security measures to access encrypted data. This vulnerability arises because the system fails to properly enforce the expected sequence of operations or checks in BitLocker's workflow, enabling an attacker with physical access to bypass these security controls. Specifically, an attacker can circumvent BitLocker's protections without needing user credentials or interaction, exploiting the flawed enforcement logic to gain unauthorized access to encrypted data. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.1 reflects a medium severity, with an attack vector requiring physical access (AV:P), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is high on confidentiality and integrity, as sensitive data can be exposed or manipulated, but availability remains unaffected. No patches or exploits are currently publicly available, but the vulnerability is officially published and reserved since August 2025. This flaw poses a significant risk to data security on devices running the affected Windows 11 build, particularly portable or physically accessible systems.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-55332 is the potential unauthorized disclosure and manipulation of sensitive data protected by BitLocker on Windows 11 Version 25H2 systems. This is especially critical for sectors handling confidential information such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure. Physical access attacks could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, or compromise of personal data, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. Since the vulnerability does not require user interaction or authentication, it increases the risk from insider threats or theft of devices. The inability to fully trust BitLocker’s encryption enforcement could undermine organizational security postures and lead to reputational damage and financial losses. However, the requirement for physical access limits remote exploitation, somewhat reducing the attack surface but emphasizing the need for strict physical security controls.

Organizations should prioritize applying official patches from Microsoft once released to address this vulnerability. Until patches are available, enforcing stringent physical security measures is critical, including controlled access to devices, secure storage of laptops and removable media, and use of hardware security modules or TPM protections. Employing multi-factor authentication for device access and leveraging complementary encryption or endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions can provide additional layers of defense. Regular audits of device security configurations and user training on physical security risks are recommended. For highly sensitive environments, consider restricting use of affected Windows 11 versions or disabling BitLocker temporarily if feasible. Monitoring for unusual device access or tampering can help detect exploitation attempts. Coordination with incident response teams to prepare for potential physical breach scenarios is also advised.