CVE-2024-27458 in Hotkey Support
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2024
A potential security vulnerability has been identified in the HP Hotkey Support software, which might allow local escalation of privilege. HP is releasing mitigation for the potential vulnerability. Customers using HP Programmable Key are recommended to update HP Hotkey Support.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-27458 resides within HP Hotkey Support software, a component designed to manage keyboard shortcuts and system functions on HP devices. This software operates with elevated privileges to ensure proper functionality of hotkey features, including programmable keys that users configure for specific tasks. The flaw represents a critical concern for system security as it potentially enables local attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to administrative rights, thereby gaining unauthorized control over the affected system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling within the Hotkey Support software. When users interact with programmable keys or system hotkeys, the underlying software processes execute with elevated permissions that should normally be restricted to authorized system components. This misconfiguration allows malicious code or unauthorized processes to exploit the software's elevated execution context and perform privileged operations without proper authentication or authorization checks. The flaw typically manifests when the software fails to properly validate input parameters or when it improperly handles privilege escalation requests during key processing operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations and individual users alike. Local privilege escalation vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited by malware or adversaries who have already gained initial access to a system through other means such as phishing attacks or unpatched applications. Once successfully exploited, attackers could install persistent backdoors, modify system files, access sensitive data, or establish footholds for further lateral movement within network environments. The impact extends beyond individual devices as compromised systems can serve as launching points for broader attacks against connected networks and infrastructure.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the privilege escalation category where techniques such as "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and "Process Injection" may be employed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276 which describes improper privilege management, and represents a clear example of how seemingly benign software components can become attack vectors when not properly secured. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems as recommended by HP, while implementing additional monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation activities. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be reinforced to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, and regular security assessments should verify that similar privilege management issues do not exist in other system components or third-party applications.