CVE-2024-49077 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
Windows Mobile Broadband Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2025
This vulnerability resides within the Windows Mobile Broadband Driver component which governs cellular connectivity operations on Windows devices. The flaw represents a privilege escalation issue that allows an attacker to elevate their access level from standard user to system level execution. The vulnerability specifically affects the driver's handling of certain input parameters during device communication processes. When a malicious actor exploits this weakness, they can manipulate the driver's behavior to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The root cause stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied data within the driver's kernel-mode execution context, creating an avenue for unauthorized privilege elevation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper parameter validation within the mobile broadband driver's kernel routines. Attackers can craft malicious input sequences that bypass normal access controls and trigger unintended execution paths within the driver code. This flaw operates at the kernel level where standard user-mode protections are ineffective, allowing attackers to gain complete system control. The vulnerability manifests when the driver processes specific communication protocols used by mobile broadband devices, particularly during connection establishment or configuration changes. The lack of proper input sanitization creates a direct path for privilege escalation attacks that can be exploited without requiring physical access to the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Once successfully exploited, attackers can install malicious software, modify system files, access sensitive data, and establish persistent access to affected systems. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where mobile broadband connectivity is prevalent, as it can be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to corporate networks and sensitive information. The attack surface includes any Windows device utilizing mobile broadband drivers, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on cellular connectivity for remote operations or backup network connections. The vulnerability's stealthy nature allows attackers to operate undetected while maintaining elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Microsoft as the primary defense mechanism. Organizations must implement comprehensive monitoring for unusual driver behavior and privilege escalation attempts within their network environments. The principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit user access rights and reduce potential impact if exploitation occurs. Network segmentation and endpoint detection capabilities should be enhanced to identify anomalous communication patterns associated with mobile broadband drivers. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments focusing on kernel-mode components and ensure proper driver signing verification is in place. Additionally, implementing behavioral analysis tools can help detect malicious activities that attempt to exploit this class of vulnerability by monitoring for unauthorized privilege elevation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, representing a weakness in input validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits.