CVE-2024-38142 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2024
Windows Secure Kernel Mode Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2025
This vulnerability exists within Windows Secure Kernel Mode, a critical security component that provides isolated execution environments for sensitive operations and kernel-mode components. The flaw allows malicious actors to escalate privileges from standard user level to SYSTEM level access, effectively bypassing fundamental Windows security boundaries. Secure Kernel Mode operates as a separate trusted execution environment that isolates critical system functions from the main kernel, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it undermines the core isolation principles designed to protect against privilege escalation attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of memory access controls within the Secure Kernel Mode subsystem. Attackers can exploit a flaw in how the system handles certain kernel-level memory operations, specifically related to how virtual address translations are managed during privilege transitions. This allows an attacker with low-privilege access to manipulate memory mappings and execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability manifests through improper bounds checking and insufficient validation of memory access patterns that should normally be restricted to kernel-mode operations only. The flaw is particularly insidious because it operates at the intersection of user-mode and kernel-mode execution contexts, making traditional security controls ineffective.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise. Once successfully exploited, attackers can gain full control over system resources including access to encrypted data, modification of system files, installation of persistent backdoors, and establishment of covert communication channels. The vulnerability affects all Windows versions that implement Secure Kernel Mode, which includes Windows 10 version 2004 and later, as well as Windows 11 operating systems. This creates a widespread attack surface across enterprise environments where Secure Kernel Mode is actively deployed for enhanced security protection, potentially affecting critical infrastructure and sensitive data processing systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, which address the underlying memory validation flaws in the Secure Kernel Mode implementation. Organizations must also implement additional defensive measures including monitoring for anomalous kernel-mode activity, restricting user privileges where possible, and maintaining robust endpoint detection and response capabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, privilege escalation through kernel exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms such as control flow integrity checks and address space layout randomization to reduce exploit reliability and prevent successful exploitation attempts across multiple attack vectors.