CVE-2024-38118 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2024
Microsoft Local Security Authority (LSA) Server Information Disclosure Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2026
This vulnerability resides in the Microsoft Local Security Authority LSA server component which handles authentication and security functions within Windows operating systems. The flaw allows unauthorized information disclosure through improper access control mechanisms within the LSA service that manages security policies and user authentication data. The vulnerability specifically affects how the LSA server processes certain requests and exposes sensitive system information to unauthenticated or low-privileged users.
The technical implementation involves a weakness in the LSA server's privilege checking mechanisms where specific API calls fail to properly validate caller credentials before returning system information. This represents a classic access control vulnerability that aligns with CWE-284 Access Control issues, where insufficient privileges are required to access restricted resources. The flaw enables attackers to extract sensitive data including user account information, security identifiers, and authentication tokens through crafted requests to the LSA service.
Operationally this vulnerability poses significant risks to Windows environments as it can be exploited by malicious actors to gather intelligence about system users and security configurations without requiring elevated privileges. Attackers can leverage this information to plan more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, privilege escalation attempts, or targeted social engineering campaigns. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the leaked data can facilitate further exploitation paths within the compromised environment, making it a critical vulnerability for enterprise security.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches that address the LSA access control weaknesses and implementation of network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable systems. Security administrators should also monitor for unusual LSA service activity and implement proper access controls on domain controllers where the vulnerability is most prevalent. Organizations should consider applying the principle of least privilege to LSA service configurations and regularly audit security policies to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive authentication data.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining robust access control mechanisms within core operating system services, as weaknesses in fundamental security components can undermine entire network security postures. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1087.001 Account Discovery where adversaries attempt to gather information about user accounts and permissions. Regular security assessments of Windows authentication services and adherence to security best practices including timely patch management are essential for preventing exploitation of such fundamental access control vulnerabilities in enterprise environments.