CVE-2024-49078 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 exists within the Windows Mobile Broadband Driver component that governs mobile network connectivity operations on Windows systems. The flaw represents a critical elevation of privilege vulnerability that allows attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to SYSTEM level access. The vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the driver's implementation, specifically in how it handles privilege checks during certain operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that leverage the driver's insufficient validation processes to gain unauthorized administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the driver's failure to properly validate input parameters and access rights during privilege escalation operations. When legitimate mobile broadband connection management operations are performed, the driver does not adequately verify the calling process's privileges or enforce proper security boundaries. This creates an attack surface where malicious code can manipulate driver interfaces to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level within the mobile broadband driver subsystem, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional user-mode security controls.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise potential. Once an attacker achieves SYSTEM level access through this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary code, modify system files, install malicious software, and establish persistent backdoors. The attack vector typically involves social engineering or exploitation of other initial access points to deliver malicious code that triggers the vulnerable driver functionality. The vulnerability affects Windows systems that utilize mobile broadband drivers for cellular network connectivity, including laptops, tablets, and other mobile devices with cellular capabilities.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment from Microsoft, which addresses the core privilege validation issues within the mobile broadband driver. Organizations should implement strict network access controls and monitor for unusual driver behavior or privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, privilege escalation through local exploits. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized code and deploy endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify suspicious driver interactions. Regular security assessments of mobile broadband driver configurations and privilege access controls are essential for maintaining system integrity. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of kernel-level security controls and proper privilege enforcement in modern operating systems.