CVE-2025-62472 is a vulnerability identified in Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0) affecting the Windows Remote Access Connection Manager component. The root cause is the use of an uninitialized resource, classified under CWE-908, which can lead to undefined behavior and security flaws. Specifically, this vulnerability allows an authorized attacker with local access to elevate their privileges on the affected system. The attacker does not require user interaction to exploit this flaw, and the attack complexity is low, meaning it can be executed reliably under the right conditions. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability by potentially allowing attackers to execute code with elevated privileges, modify system configurations, or disrupt services. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's presence in a widely used OS version and its high CVSS score (7.8) indicate a significant risk. The vulnerability requires local privileges to exploit, so attackers must already have some level of access, but once exploited, they can gain higher privileges, which can be leveraged for further attacks or persistence. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting increases the urgency for organizations to implement compensating controls. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for environments where Windows 10 Version 1809 remains in use, often due to legacy application dependencies or delayed upgrade cycles.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-62472 can be substantial. Many enterprises and government agencies still operate legacy Windows 10 Version 1809 systems, especially in critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, transportation, and healthcare. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges locally, potentially leading to full system compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of services, and lateral movement within networks. This could result in data breaches, operational downtime, and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR and other data protection laws. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require user interaction, increasing the risk of automated or stealthy attacks by insiders or malware that has gained initial foothold. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity score indicates that once exploits emerge, the threat landscape could rapidly worsen. Organizations relying on remote access technologies or with extensive local user bases are particularly vulnerable, as attackers may leverage this flaw to escalate privileges from lower-privileged accounts.

1. Apply official Microsoft patches immediately once they become available for Windows 10 Version 1809 to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Until patches are released, restrict local access to systems running this OS version by enforcing strict access control policies and limiting administrative privileges. 3. Implement enhanced monitoring and alerting for unusual privilege escalation activities and anomalous behavior on endpoints, especially those running legacy Windows versions. 4. Use application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting exploitation attempts targeting privilege escalation vulnerabilities. 5. Conduct regular audits of user accounts and permissions to minimize the number of users with local privileges that could exploit this vulnerability. 6. Consider accelerating migration plans away from Windows 10 Version 1809 to supported and patched operating system versions to reduce exposure. 7. Educate IT staff and users about the risks of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities and the importance of maintaining updated systems. 8. Employ network segmentation to limit the spread of potential compromises originating from exploited endpoints.