CVE-2025-55682 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-841 (Improper Enforcement of Behavioral Workflow) that affects Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2, specifically impacting the BitLocker encryption feature. BitLocker is designed to protect data by encrypting drives and enforcing strict access controls. This vulnerability arises from a flaw in how Windows enforces the behavioral workflow of BitLocker, allowing an attacker with physical access to bypass security mechanisms intended to prevent unauthorized data access. The vulnerability does not require any user interaction or prior authentication, but physical access to the device is mandatory, making remote exploitation infeasible. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.1, indicating a medium severity level, with the vector showing physical attack (AV:P), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality and integrity is high, as an attacker could potentially access or modify encrypted data without authorization. Availability is not affected. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no patches have been released at the time of this analysis. The vulnerability was reserved in August 2025 and published in October 2025. The lack of patch availability necessitates immediate attention to physical security and monitoring to mitigate potential exploitation risks.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-55682 lies in the potential compromise of sensitive encrypted data protected by BitLocker on Windows 11 Version 25H2 devices. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, which often rely on BitLocker for data-at-rest protection, could face significant confidentiality and integrity risks if devices are physically accessed by attackers. The vulnerability could enable attackers to bypass encryption safeguards, leading to data breaches, intellectual property theft, or unauthorized data manipulation. Since the attack requires physical access, organizations with distributed workforces, mobile devices, or less controlled physical environments are at higher risk. Although availability is not impacted, the loss of data confidentiality and integrity could result in regulatory penalties under GDPR and damage to organizational reputation. The absence of known exploits and patches means that proactive mitigation is essential to reduce exposure until a fix is available.

1. Enhance physical security controls to restrict unauthorized access to devices, including secure storage, access logs, and surveillance in sensitive areas. 2. Implement strict device handling policies, especially for laptops and mobile devices that use BitLocker encryption. 3. Use hardware-based security modules (e.g., TPM) and ensure BitLocker is configured to require multifactor authentication where possible. 4. Monitor for unusual physical access or tampering events using endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools integrated with physical security systems. 5. Maintain an inventory of devices running Windows 11 Version 25H2 and prioritize them for patching once Microsoft releases an update. 6. Educate employees on the importance of device security and reporting lost or stolen hardware immediately. 7. Consider additional encryption or data protection layers for highly sensitive data to mitigate risks from BitLocker bypass. 8. Establish incident response plans that include scenarios involving physical device compromise. 9. Regularly review and update security policies to incorporate emerging threats related to physical attacks on encryption technologies.