CVE-2022-24494 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2022
Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2025
The Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock represents a critical elevation of privilege vulnerability that resides within the core networking infrastructure of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects the Ancillary Function Driver component that manages socket operations and network communication services. The flaw exists in how the driver handles certain memory operations during network function processing, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. The vulnerability impacts multiple Windows versions including Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where these systems are prevalent. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how kernel-mode drivers can be exploited to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of user-supplied data within the driver's memory management routines, allowing for potential memory corruption that can be leveraged for privilege escalation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first obtain a low-privilege account on the target system, after which they can craft specific network operations that trigger the flawed memory handling within the Ancillary Function Driver. The flaw manifests when the driver processes certain socket operations that involve buffer management, particularly when handling malformed or specially crafted network data. Attackers can leverage this condition to overwrite memory locations within the driver's execution context, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the WinSock API framework which is fundamental to network communication across Windows systems, making legitimate network operations a potential attack vector. The exploitation process typically involves creating a malicious network connection or socket operation that causes the driver to allocate or reallocate memory in a way that allows for controlled overwrite of critical memory segments. This type of vulnerability is classified under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as privilege escalation technique, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-24494 extends far beyond individual system compromise, presenting significant risks to enterprise network security and operational continuity. Organizations running affected Windows systems face potential complete system compromise where attackers can establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware payloads with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's presence in core networking components means that even systems with traditional network security controls may be vulnerable, as the attack can originate from within normal network traffic patterns. Security teams must consider that this vulnerability could be exploited in both targeted attacks against specific systems and in broader campaign activities where attackers scan for vulnerable systems. The impact is particularly severe in environments where Windows systems serve as network gateways, servers, or domain controllers, as compromise of these systems can lead to widespread network infiltration. Organizations may experience service disruption, data breaches, and compliance violations if the vulnerability is exploited successfully. The vulnerability also poses challenges for incident response teams, as the exploitation may not be immediately apparent through standard network monitoring tools, requiring specialized forensic analysis to detect compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-24494 should prioritize immediate patch deployment as the primary defense mechanism, with Microsoft releasing security updates that address the specific memory handling flaws within the Ancillary Function Driver. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, particularly restricting network access to critical systems. The implementation of runtime application control policies and exploit protection mechanisms can help prevent exploitation attempts by blocking known malicious patterns of memory corruption. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual network activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on socket operations and network communication anomalies. System administrators should consider implementing the principle of least privilege, ensuring that user accounts have minimal necessary permissions and that administrative privileges are granted only when required. Additional defensive measures include regular security assessments of network infrastructure, implementation of endpoint detection and response solutions, and maintaining up-to-date network security monitoring tools that can detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with privilege escalation attempts. Organizations should also develop and test incident response procedures specifically addressing kernel-level privilege escalation vulnerabilities, ensuring that security teams can respond quickly and effectively to potential exploitation attempts.