CVE-2024-49073 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
Windows Mobile Broadband Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2025
This vulnerability resides within the Windows Mobile Broadband Driver component and represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw that could allow a malicious actor to escalate their privileges from a standard user to SYSTEM level. The issue specifically affects the mobile broadband driver functionality that manages cellular connections and related network services on Windows operating systems. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient privilege checks within the driver's handling of specific IOCTL (Input/Output Control) requests that are used for communication between user-mode applications and kernel-mode driver components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious IOCTL calls that bypass normal access controls and execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. The flaw exists because the driver fails to properly validate the security context and access rights of incoming requests, allowing unprivileged users to manipulate driver behavior through carefully constructed input parameters. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it directly impacts the Windows Mobile Broadband Driver service which operates with elevated privileges to manage network connections and device communications. The attack surface is broad since mobile broadband drivers are commonly installed on various Windows devices including laptops, tablets, and IoT devices that rely on cellular connectivity. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-269: "Improper Privilege Management" and CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write" as the exploitation typically involves manipulating driver memory structures to achieve privilege escalation. The operational impact is severe as successful exploitation enables attackers to gain complete system control, install malware, modify system files, and access all user data without detection. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068: "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1547.001: "Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder" as attackers can leverage the elevated privileges to establish persistence mechanisms. The attack requires minimal user interaction since the vulnerability can be exploited through legitimate driver interfaces without requiring physical access or complex social engineering. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor patches released for this vulnerability, as the Windows Mobile Broadband Driver is essential for cellular connectivity on numerous devices. Additionally, implementing privilege separation measures, monitoring driver behavior for unusual IOCTL activity, and restricting user access to mobile broadband configuration interfaces can help mitigate the risk. Security teams should also conduct thorough network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts through anomalous driver communication patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper privilege management in kernel-mode drivers and highlights the need for robust input validation and access control mechanisms in all system components. This flaw represents a significant risk to enterprise environments where mobile broadband connectivity is common and where attackers may target these drivers as an entry point for broader system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation potential makes it a high-priority target for threat actors seeking persistent access to Windows systems, particularly those with mobile connectivity requirements.
This vulnerability specifically affects the Windows Mobile Broadband Driver service which operates in kernel space with elevated privileges to manage cellular network connections and related communications. The flaw occurs during the processing of IOCTL requests that are used to communicate between user-mode applications and the kernel-mode driver components. When a user submits a malformed IOCTL request, the driver fails to properly validate the security context and access rights, allowing unprivileged users to manipulate the driver's behavior. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it involves the kernel-mode driver executing code with SYSTEM privileges, which provides complete control over the affected system. Attackers can leverage this weakness by constructing specific IOCTL commands that trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption within the driver's processing logic. The exploitation typically involves sending specially crafted data to the driver through legitimate communication channels, bypassing normal access controls and privilege checks. This vulnerability directly relates to the Common Weakness Enumeration CWE-269 which addresses improper privilege management in software systems, and CWE-787 which deals with out-of-bounds writes that can lead to privilege escalation. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be executed remotely through network-based attacks or locally through malicious applications that interact with the mobile broadband driver interface. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual devices to potentially affect entire enterprise networks where mobile broadband connectivity is prevalent. Security researchers have identified that the flaw affects multiple Windows versions including Windows 10, Windows 11, and various server editions that support mobile broadband functionality. The exploitation process requires minimal privileges initially but results in SYSTEM-level access, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking persistent access to compromised systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Once exploited, attackers can install rootkits, modify system files, access encrypted data, and establish persistent backdoors without detection. The vulnerability affects devices that rely on mobile broadband connectivity including laptops, tablets, and IoT devices that use cellular modems for internet access. This makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where mobile connectivity is common and where attackers may target these devices as entry points for broader network compromise. The attack can be executed silently without user interaction, making detection extremely difficult through traditional monitoring approaches. Organizations should implement immediate patch management strategies to address this vulnerability, as the Windows Mobile Broadband Driver is a critical component for cellular connectivity on numerous devices. Network monitoring should focus on unusual IOCTL activity patterns and unexpected driver communications that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's presence in kernel-mode components makes it particularly challenging to detect and remediate, as traditional endpoint protection solutions may not identify the malicious driver behavior. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict which applications can interact with the mobile broadband driver interfaces. The flaw demonstrates the critical importance of proper kernel-mode privilege management and input validation, as even minor security oversights in driver code can result in complete system compromise. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK tactics that focus on privilege escalation and persistence, making it a high-value target for advanced persistent threat groups. The widespread use of mobile broadband drivers across different device types and Windows versions increases the potential attack surface significantly, requiring comprehensive security measures across all affected systems. Organizations should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected mobile broadband drivers and prioritize patch deployment based on risk assessment. The vulnerability's exploitation potential makes it essential for security teams to implement layered defense strategies that include both preventive measures and detection capabilities to protect against this critical privilege escalation flaw.