CVE-2024-34397 in GLib
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2024
An issue was discovered in GNOME GLib before 2.78.5, and 2.79.x and 2.80.x before 2.80.1. When a GDBus-based client subscribes to signals from a trusted system service such as NetworkManager on a shared computer, other users of the same computer can send spoofed D-Bus signals that the GDBus-based client will wrongly interpret as having been sent by the trusted system service. This could lead to the GDBus-based client behaving incorrectly, with an application-dependent impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-34397 represents a significant security flaw within the GNOME GLib library affecting versions prior to 2.78.5 and specific releases in the 2.79.x and 2.80.x series. This issue specifically impacts GDBus-based applications that establish signal subscriptions to trusted system services, creating a dangerous scenario where unauthorized users can manipulate the communication channel. The flaw stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that fail to properly authenticate the source of D-Bus signals, allowing malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship between client applications and system services.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of D-Bus signal authentication within the GLib library's GDBus implementation. When applications subscribe to signals from trusted services like NetworkManager, the system should verify that these signals originate from the legitimate source rather than being spoofed by other users on the same system. This authentication gap creates a path for privilege escalation and potential system compromise, as the vulnerable applications process spoofed signals as if they came from trusted sources. The flaw operates at the middleware level, where the communication framework fails to implement proper source verification mechanisms that are critical for maintaining system integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary actions within the context of the affected applications. Since NetworkManager and similar system services often control critical network functions, an attacker could manipulate network connectivity, alter network configurations, or trigger unauthorized system behaviors. The consequences depend heavily on the specific application that subscribes to these signals, but the potential for privilege escalation and system compromise remains substantial. This vulnerability particularly affects multi-user environments where shared computing resources are common, making it a significant concern for desktop environments and server systems alike.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses insufficient access control, and represents a classic case of trust abuse within inter-process communication mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this issue maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be leveraged for lateral movement within shared computing environments. The attack vector requires local access to the system but does not necessarily require elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user scenarios. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing additional monitoring of D-Bus signal traffic to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation approach centers on updating to GLib versions 2.78.5 or later, which include proper signal authentication mechanisms. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in environments where multiple users share computing resources.