CVE-2024-38107 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2024
Windows Power Dependency Coordinator Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2025
This vulnerability resides in the Windows Power Dependency Coordinator component which is responsible for managing power relationships and dependencies between various system components and applications. The flaw allows a local attacker with standard user privileges to escalate their access level to system-level privileges through a carefully crafted sequence of operations that exploit improper privilege validation within the power management subsystem. The vulnerability specifically affects the coordination of power dependencies between processes and services, creating an opportunity for privilege escalation when the system fails to properly validate the security context of power dependency requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and privilege checking mechanisms within the Power Dependency Coordinator service. When applications or processes attempt to establish power dependencies, the system should verify that the requesting entity has appropriate authorization levels before granting the dependency relationship. However, the flaw exists in the validation logic that fails to properly authenticate the requesting process, allowing malicious code to manipulate power dependency relationships and gain elevated privileges. This represents a classic privilege escalation vector where the attacker exploits a gap in the access control mechanisms of the operating system's power management infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with a persistent means of gaining system-level access that can be leveraged for further compromise. Once elevated, an attacker can manipulate system processes, install malicious software, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistence mechanisms within the Windows environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level through the power management subsystem, making detection more difficult and the attack surface broader. The attack requires local system access but does not need network connectivity, making it a significant threat in environments where physical access is possible or where initial compromise occurs through other attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application as provided by Microsoft through regular security updates, while also implementing additional security controls such as privilege separation and monitoring of power dependency changes. Organizations should consider implementing application control measures to restrict which processes can interact with the Power Dependency Coordinator service and establish monitoring for unusual power dependency patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276 which addresses improper privilege management and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploits. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while regular security assessments should monitor for unauthorized changes to power management configurations that could indicate compromise.