CVE-2024-38161 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2024
Windows Mobile Broadband Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2026
This vulnerability affects the Windows Mobile Broadband driver component which handles communication with mobile network devices and services. The flaw resides in how the driver processes specific input data structures during network connection establishment and data transmission operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious network packets or connection parameters that trigger improper memory handling within the driver code, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution at kernel level privileges.
The technical implementation involves buffer overflow conditions and improper validation of user-supplied data passed through mobile broadband interfaces. When legitimate network devices attempt to establish connections or transmit data through the vulnerable driver, malformed input can cause stack corruption or heap-based memory issues that allow attackers to overwrite critical system memory locations. This type of vulnerability maps directly to common CWE categories including CWE-121 for stack-based buffer overflow and CWE-787 for out-of-bounds write conditions. The attack surface extends across all Windows versions supporting mobile broadband functionality, particularly affecting systems with cellular data capabilities or USB modem connections.
Operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote code execution without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where mobile broadband connections are common. An attacker could leverage this flaw to install malware, escalate privileges, or establish persistent backdoors on affected systems. The vulnerability affects both authenticated and unauthenticated attack scenarios since the driver interfaces can be accessed through various network protocols. This aligns with ATT&CK techniques focusing on privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms through kernel-level exploitation.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates that address the specific memory handling issues within the mobile broadband driver component. Organizations must also implement network segmentation controls to limit access to mobile broadband interfaces where possible, particularly for systems not requiring cellular connectivity. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary mobile broadband services, applying network-based firewalls to block suspicious traffic patterns, and monitoring system logs for unusual driver behavior or connection attempts that might indicate exploitation activity. Security teams should consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions specifically configured to monitor kernel-level activities associated with mobile broadband drivers to detect potential exploitation attempts.