CVE-2024-42444 in AptioV
Summary
by MITRE • 01/14/2025
APTIOV contains a vulnerability in BIOS where an attacker may cause a TOCTOU Race Condition by local means. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may lead to execution of arbitrary code on the target device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-42444 resides within the APTIOV firmware implementation, specifically manifesting as a time-of-check to time-of-use race condition that can be exploited through local attack vectors. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the firmware layer that governs system boot processes and hardware initialization. The race condition occurs when the system performs a validation check at one point in time and subsequently accesses the same resource at a later point, creating an exploitable window where malicious actors can manipulate the system state between these two operations. This particular vulnerability is classified under CWE-367 which specifically addresses Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use race conditions, making it a well-documented and dangerous class of security flaws that can undermine the integrity of system operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires local access to the target device, meaning an attacker must already have physical presence or administrative privileges within the system's operational environment. This local privilege requirement significantly reduces the attack surface compared to remote exploits, yet it remains highly concerning given that firmware-level vulnerabilities can persist across operating system reboots and are particularly difficult to detect and remediate. The race condition allows for arbitrary code execution, which represents a severe escalation of privileges that could enable attackers to gain complete control over the system's boot process, potentially leading to persistent backdoors, system compromise, or complete device takeover. The nature of this flaw means that even legitimate system updates or modifications could be subverted during the vulnerable window, creating an attack surface that extends beyond simple code execution to include system integrity compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-42444 extends far beyond immediate code execution capabilities, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model of the system's firmware security architecture. When an attacker can manipulate the boot process through a race condition, they gain the ability to bypass security measures that are typically enforced at the firmware level, including secure boot mechanisms, hardware-based encryption, and other critical security features designed to protect system integrity. This vulnerability creates an attack vector that can persist across system reboots and is particularly dangerous because it operates below the operating system layer, making traditional antivirus and endpoint protection solutions ineffective against such attacks. The implications are severe for enterprise environments where firmware integrity is crucial for maintaining security postures, as this vulnerability could allow attackers to establish persistent access points that survive operating system reinstalls and security patches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the firmware-level nature of the flaw through multiple defensive measures. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized physical access to devices, as the local exploitation requirement makes physical security controls essential. Firmware updates from vendors should be prioritized and deployed immediately upon availability, as these patches typically address the race condition through proper synchronization mechanisms or by eliminating the vulnerable code paths. The implementation of hardware security modules and secure boot features should be verified to ensure they remain functional despite the presence of this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their firmware environments and consider implementing runtime integrity checking mechanisms that can detect unauthorized modifications to the boot process. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving firmware manipulation and boot process compromise, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures that extend beyond traditional operating system security controls to encompass the entire system lifecycle.