CVE-2024-38048 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 07/09/2024
Windows Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) Denial of Service Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2024
This vulnerability resides within the Windows Network Driver Interface Specification which serves as a critical interface layer between network drivers and the operating system kernel. The flaw manifests in how NDIS handles certain malformed network packets during the processing of network traffic, specifically when dealing with buffer management and packet validation routines. When an attacker crafts malicious network traffic that exploits this weakness, it can cause the network driver to enter an inconsistent state leading to system instability and complete denial of network services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the NDIS subsystem where network packets are processed without sufficient bounds checking or memory allocation safeguards. This allows attackers to send specially crafted packets that trigger buffer overflows or invalid memory access patterns within the driver code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level where malicious input can directly compromise system integrity and availability. According to CWE-129, this represents an implementation flaw in input validation that permits improperly validated input to be processed by the application, leading to potentially catastrophic system behavior.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to execute remote denial of service attacks against Windows systems without requiring elevated privileges or authentication. The impact extends beyond simple network disruption as it can cause complete system crashes requiring manual restarts and potentially lead to extended downtime for critical infrastructure. Network administrators may observe intermittent connectivity issues, failed network connections, or complete network interface failures that appear to be hardware-related but are actually caused by this software vulnerability. The attack surface is broad since any Windows system with active network interfaces could be affected regardless of the specific network driver implementation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates and Windows Update mechanisms. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit the attack surface by restricting access to vulnerable systems from untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous traffic patterns or malformed packets may provide early warning of exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider disabling unused network interfaces and implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely remediation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which involves compromising availability through various means including denial of service attacks against network infrastructure components.