CVE-2024-49074 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
Windows Kernel-Mode Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the windows kernel-mode driver subsystem that allows authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level execution. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management handling within kernel-mode components that process device io requests and handle driver communication protocols. According to cwe-125, this issue manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition where maliciously crafted input data can trigger arbitrary code execution within the kernel context, bypassing standard security boundaries that normally protect system integrity.
The technical implementation involves a race condition or improper validation of user-supplied parameters passed through ntdeviceiocontrolfunction calls to kernel-mode drivers. Attackers can exploit this by creating specially crafted driver objects or device handles that trigger memory corruption during kernel processing. The vulnerability typically occurs when the kernel driver fails to properly validate buffer sizes, input lengths, or parameter boundaries before performing memory operations. This flaw aligns with attack technique t1068 which describes privilege escalation through kernel exploits, leveraging the inherent trust relationships between user-mode applications and kernel components.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities including persistent backdoor installation, credential theft, and data exfiltration. The exploitation requires minimal privileges initially but results in full administrative control over affected systems. Organizations running vulnerable windows versions face significant risk since kernel-mode exploits are particularly dangerous due to their ability to bypass most endpoint protection mechanisms, anti-virus solutions, and standard security controls. The attack surface includes all windows operating systems that contain the vulnerable driver components, making this a widespread concern across enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment through microsoft security updates which address the underlying validation flaws in kernel-mode driver handling. Organizations must implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious device io activity and abnormal privilege escalation events through endpoint detection and response solutions. Additionally, implementing kernel-mode exploit protection features such as control flow guard, driver signature enforcement, and secure boot configurations can significantly reduce exploitation success rates. The remediation approach should also include regular security assessments of installed drivers, disabling unnecessary kernel components, and maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence feeds to detect emerging exploitation patterns targeting similar vulnerabilities.