CVE-2025-59506 is a race condition vulnerability classified under CWE-362 found in the DirectX component of Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The vulnerability occurs due to improper synchronization when multiple threads concurrently access shared resources, leading to a state where an attacker with local authorized access can exploit timing issues to elevate their privileges. This elevation allows the attacker to gain higher system privileges than intended, potentially compromising system confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges and does not require user interaction, but has a high attack complexity, meaning exploitation is non-trivial and requires precise timing or conditions. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.0, reflecting high severity with impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No public exploits or patches are currently available, but the vulnerability is officially published and recognized. The flaw specifically affects Windows 10 Version 1809, which, despite being an older release, remains in use in certain environments, particularly in legacy systems or industrial control systems. The race condition in DirectX could be leveraged by attackers to bypass security controls and execute code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise or lateral movement within networks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-59506 is significant, especially for those still operating Windows 10 Version 1809 in production or legacy environments. Successful exploitation can lead to local privilege escalation, enabling attackers to gain administrative control over affected systems. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical services, and the potential for further exploitation such as deploying ransomware or persistent backdoors. Organizations in sectors with stringent regulatory requirements (e.g., finance, healthcare, government) face increased compliance risks if this vulnerability is exploited. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk, but the presence of a high-severity vulnerability in a widely used OS version necessitates proactive mitigation. The impact is compounded in environments where local user accounts are shared or where endpoint security controls are weak, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation.

1. Apply security patches from Microsoft as soon as they become available for Windows 10 Version 1809 to address this race condition vulnerability. 2. Restrict local access to systems running Windows 10 Version 1809 by enforcing strict user account controls and limiting administrative privileges. 3. Implement application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor and block suspicious local privilege escalation attempts. 4. Conduct regular audits of user permissions and remove unnecessary local accounts or privileges to reduce the attack surface. 5. For legacy systems that cannot be immediately updated, consider isolating them from critical network segments and applying compensating controls such as enhanced logging and monitoring. 6. Educate system administrators and users about the risks of local privilege escalation and the importance of maintaining updated systems. 7. Employ virtualization or sandboxing techniques where feasible to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 8. Monitor threat intelligence sources for any emerging exploits targeting this vulnerability to enable rapid response.