CVE-2024-30165 in AWS Client VPN
Summary
by MITRE • 05/28/2024
Amazon AWS Client VPN before 3.9.1 on macOS has a buffer overflow that could potentially allow a local actor to execute arbitrary commands with elevated permissions, a different vulnerability than CVE-2024-30164.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-30165 affects Amazon AWS Client VPN versions prior to 3.9.1 on macOS operating systems, representing a critical buffer overflow flaw that fundamentally compromises system security. This issue specifically targets the client-side VPN application that users employ to establish secure connections to AWS infrastructure, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by local adversaries. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the application's memory management routines, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious data to overflow allocated memory buffers. Such buffer overflow conditions typically occur when programs write more data to a fixed-length buffer than it can accommodate, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of input parameters within the Client VPN application's macOS implementation, where the application fails to properly validate the length and content of user-supplied data during processing. When an attacker provides specially crafted input that exceeds buffer boundaries, the overflow can overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data structures. This memory corruption enables an attacker to redirect program execution flow and inject malicious code that executes with the elevated privileges of the running process. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the local privilege escalation level, meaning that an attacker with access to the system can leverage this flaw to gain higher-level permissions without requiring additional authentication mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on AWS Client VPN for secure remote access, as it allows for unauthorized privilege escalation that could enable attackers to access sensitive corporate resources, exfiltrate data, or establish persistent access to network infrastructure. The attack surface is broad since the vulnerability exists within the client-side application that many users run on their personal devices, potentially creating multiple entry points for adversaries. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to encompass potential lateral movement within networks and access to cloud resources that the compromised client might have legitimate access to, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability in enterprise environments where remote access is common.
The exploitation of CVE-2024-30165 aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting local system compromise and credential access. This vulnerability could be classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, or potentially CWE-122 for heap-based buffer overflow depending on the exact implementation details. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to the broader category of memory safety issues that affect client applications and operating systems, particularly those implementing network connectivity features. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of AWS Client VPN version 3.9.1 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and memory management controls to prevent the overflow condition. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all client systems maintain current security patches to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and memory safety practices in network security applications, particularly those that operate with elevated privileges on end-user systems. The flaw represents a failure in defensive programming practices that should be standard in all security-sensitive applications, where proper bounds checking and memory management routines are essential to prevent exploitation. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their remote access infrastructure and ensure that all client applications are regularly updated to address known security flaws. The presence of such vulnerabilities in widely-used security applications underscores the need for continuous security monitoring and rapid patch deployment processes to minimize exposure windows and maintain robust security postures against evolving threat landscapes.