CVE-2024-49090 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
Windows Common Log File System Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2025
The Windows Common Log File System Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Windows operating system that allows attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. This vulnerability specifically affects the Common Log File System driver which is responsible for managing log file operations and system logging functions within the Windows kernel. The flaw stems from improper input validation and insufficient access controls within the driver's handling of log file operations, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to gain unauthorized administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a privilege escalation mechanism that occurs when the Common Log File System driver processes certain log file operations without adequate validation of user input or proper privilege checking. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious log file entries or manipulating existing log file structures in a way that triggers the driver to execute code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires a local attacker who already has a standard user account on the target system, but the successful exploitation results in complete system compromise and administrative control over the affected machine. This flaw falls under the CWE-264 category of Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls, specifically addressing improper privileges for a resource.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to bypass critical security controls and access sensitive system resources. Once an attacker achieves system-level privileges through this vulnerability, they can install malicious software, modify system configurations, access encrypted data, and establish persistent backdoors within the compromised system. The vulnerability's presence in the Common Log File System driver means that it affects all Windows versions that include this component, potentially impacting a wide range of enterprise environments and individual workstations. Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious log file manipulation, file system manipulation, and potentially through network-based attacks that leverage the driver's logging capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems through official Microsoft security updates, as well as implementing additional security controls to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should deploy the latest security patches and updates from Microsoft as soon as they become available, while also implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential exploitation. The vulnerability's nature makes it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where multiple users and systems are present, as a single compromised account could lead to widespread system compromise. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect suspicious log file operations and privilege escalation attempts, while following the ATT&CK framework's techniques for privilege escalation to identify and respond to potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing least privilege principles and regular security assessments can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through this vulnerability.