CVE-2025-55682 is a vulnerability identified in Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2 (build 10.0.26200.0) that affects the BitLocker full disk encryption feature. The root cause is an improper enforcement of behavioral workflow (classified under CWE-841), which means that the expected sequence or conditions for BitLocker’s security mechanisms are not correctly validated or enforced. This flaw allows an attacker with physical access to the device to bypass BitLocker’s encryption protections, potentially gaining unauthorized access to encrypted data without needing authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability does not affect system availability but compromises confidentiality and integrity of data protected by BitLocker. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N) indicates that the attack requires physical access (AV:P), has low attack complexity (AC:L), requires no privileges or user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity at a high level. No known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, and no official patches have been released as of the publication date (October 14, 2025). This vulnerability highlights a critical gap in the enforcement of BitLocker’s security workflow, which is designed to protect data at rest from unauthorized physical access. The flaw could be exploited by attackers who gain physical possession of devices, such as stolen laptops or devices in insecure environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to data confidentiality and integrity, particularly for sectors relying heavily on BitLocker for data protection, such as government, finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. The ability to bypass BitLocker encryption with physical access undermines trust in endpoint security, potentially exposing sensitive personal data, intellectual property, and classified information. Organizations with mobile workforces or remote employees using Windows 11 devices are especially vulnerable to theft or loss scenarios. Although availability is not impacted, the breach of confidentiality and integrity can lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR and other data protection laws, resulting in legal and financial consequences. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the physical access requirement means that physical security controls must be strengthened alongside software updates.

1. Monitor Microsoft security advisories closely and apply official patches immediately upon release to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Enforce strict physical security policies to prevent unauthorized physical access to devices, including secure storage, access controls, and device tracking. 3. Use hardware-based security modules such as TPM (Trusted Platform Module) and enable BitLocker with TPM+PIN or TPM+USB key configurations to add layers of authentication. 4. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious device tampering or unauthorized access attempts. 5. Conduct regular security awareness training emphasizing the importance of physical device security for employees. 6. Consider additional encryption or data protection layers for highly sensitive data beyond BitLocker. 7. Review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving physical device compromise and encryption bypass. 8. Limit the use of Windows 11 25H2 devices in high-risk environments until patches are applied.