CVE-2024-49092 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 allows local attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to system level execution. The flaw specifically affects the handling of privilege escalation mechanisms within the mobile broadband driver subsystem, which is responsible for managing cellular data connections and related network services on Windows devices. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of privilege levels during driver operations, creating an opportunity for malicious code to exploit the system's security boundaries and gain unauthorized administrative access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in the driver's privilege checking routines where insufficient validation occurs when processing specific API calls or system requests. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that interact with the mobile broadband driver interface, potentially through legitimate system processes that utilize the driver's functionality. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privileges, and represents a classic case of privilege escalation through driver-level weaknesses. The attack vector typically requires local system access but can be particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to bypass standard user account restrictions and execute code with full system privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to install persistent backdoors, modify system files, disable security features, and access sensitive data stored on the device. Mobile broadband drivers often maintain elevated privileges to perform their network management functions, making them attractive targets for exploitation. The vulnerability affects Windows operating systems that include mobile broadband capabilities, particularly those supporting 3G, 4G, and 5G cellular connections through various modem technologies. Security researchers have noted that this flaw can be particularly challenging to detect and remediate due to the complex nature of driver interactions within the Windows kernel space.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, as well as implementing additional security controls such as driver signature enforcement, application whitelisting, and monitoring for unusual driver behavior. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary mobile broadband functionality when not required, particularly on systems where such capabilities are not essential for operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining secure driver development practices and proper privilege separation within operating system components. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to unauthorized driver modifications or unusual network activity patterns that might suggest exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the critical need for comprehensive security testing of driver components and adherence to secure coding practices that prevent privilege escalation attacks. The remediation process should include thorough system auditing to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred before patch deployment, as well as ongoing monitoring for similar vulnerabilities in other driver components that might present analogous security risks.