CVE-2025-59214 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor) affecting Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809, specifically build 10.0.17763.0. The vulnerability resides in Windows File Explorer's handling of network interactions, where an attacker can perform spoofing attacks to expose sensitive information to unauthorized actors. The vulnerability does not require any privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as opening or interacting with a malicious network resource. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), making it remotely exploitable without physical access. The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is limited to the vulnerable component without affecting other system components. The confidentiality impact is high (C:H), indicating significant exposure of sensitive data, but integrity (I:N) and availability (A:N) are not impacted. The CVSS score of 6.5 reflects a medium severity level. No patches are currently linked, and no known exploits are reported in the wild, suggesting the vulnerability is newly disclosed. The vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to gather sensitive information, potentially facilitating further targeted attacks or social engineering. The exposure through File Explorer suggests that network shares or remote resources could be vectors for exploitation. The vulnerability's presence in an older Windows 10 version (1809) means that systems not updated or upgraded remain at risk.

For European organizations, the primary impact is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, which can lead to data breaches, loss of confidentiality, and potential compliance violations under regulations like GDPR. The exposure could enable attackers to gather intelligence useful for subsequent attacks such as phishing, lateral movement, or privilege escalation. Since Windows 10 Version 1809 is still in use in some enterprise environments, especially where legacy applications or hardware compatibility is a concern, these organizations remain vulnerable. The lack of impact on integrity and availability limits the risk of system disruption but does not diminish the risk of data leakage. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are particularly sensitive to such exposures. The network-based attack vector means that organizations with extensive network shares or remote access services are at higher risk. The requirement for user interaction implies that user awareness and training can reduce risk but cannot eliminate it entirely. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future exploitation attempts.

1. Apply security updates and patches from Microsoft as soon as they become available for Windows 10 Version 1809 systems. 2. Where patching is not immediately possible, restrict network access to vulnerable systems by implementing network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure to untrusted networks. 3. Disable or restrict access to network shares and remote resources that are not essential, reducing the attack surface. 4. Educate users to recognize and avoid interacting with suspicious network resources or unexpected prompts in File Explorer. 5. Monitor network traffic for unusual activity that could indicate exploitation attempts or reconnaissance. 6. Consider upgrading affected systems to a more recent, supported Windows version that includes security improvements and patches. 7. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect anomalous behavior related to network spoofing or data exfiltration attempts. 8. Review and enforce least privilege principles to minimize the impact of any potential exploitation.