CVE-2024-38057 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 07/09/2024
Kernel Streaming WOW Thunk Service Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2024
This vulnerability resides within the kernel streaming wow thunk service driver component of windows operating systems, representing a critical elevation of privilege flaw that allows malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. The issue stems from improper input validation and insufficient privilege checks within the driver's handling of kernel streaming operations, specifically when processing requests from user-mode applications through the wow64 thunking mechanism designed for 32-bit compatibility on 64-bit systems.
The technical exploitation occurs through a flaw in how the driver processes certain kernel streaming commands that are passed through the wow thunk interface. When a malicious application submits crafted input parameters to the kernel streaming service, the driver fails to properly validate the incoming data structures before executing privileged operations. This validation gap enables attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, bypassing standard security controls such as user access control and integrity checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides adversaries with complete system compromise capabilities including full read/write access to all system memory, the ability to install rootkits, modify critical system files, and establish persistent backdoors. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, escalate their privileges silently without detection, and maintain long-term control over affected systems. The vulnerability affects multiple windows versions including windows 10, windows server 2016, and windows server 2019 where the kernel streaming wow thunk service remains active.
Security researchers have identified this issue as aligning with CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) classifications, while threat actors typically map this vulnerability to ATT&CK technique T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and T1547.001 (Registry Run Keys). The attack surface is particularly concerning given that kernel streaming services are commonly enabled across enterprise environments and the exploitation requires minimal privileges to initiate, often starting with a simple web browser or email attachment that triggers the vulnerable driver path through normal user interaction.
Mitigation strategies include applying microsoft security patches immediately upon release, disabling unnecessary kernel streaming functionality through registry modifications, implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of potentially malicious code, and monitoring for suspicious kernel-level activities using advanced threat detection systems. Organizations should also consider implementing microsegmentation controls and network-based monitoring to detect lateral movement attempts that may follow successful exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should specifically target kernel drivers and wow64 thunk interfaces to identify similar issues before they can be exploited by adversaries.