CVE-2024-49095 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
Windows PrintWorkflowUserSvc Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2025
This vulnerability exists within the Windows PrintWorkflowUserSvc service which is part of the Windows operating system's printing infrastructure. The service operates with elevated privileges and handles print job processing workflows for users. The flaw represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows a local attacker to potentially elevate their access level from standard user to system level. This occurs due to improper access control mechanisms within the service that fail to properly validate incoming requests or enforce appropriate security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control checks within the PrintWorkflowUserSvc component. When the service processes certain print workflow operations, it does not adequately verify the privileges or identity of the requesting process. This creates an opportunity for malicious code running with standard user privileges to manipulate the service into executing privileged operations. The vulnerability manifests when the service accepts untrusted input or commands without proper authentication or authorization checks, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides a pathway for persistent system compromise. An attacker who gains initial access to a Windows system could leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM level, which would grant them complete control over the affected machine. This elevated access level would allow the attacker to install malicious software, modify system files, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability affects multiple Windows versions including Windows 10 and Windows 11, making it a widespread concern for enterprise environments.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches once available, as the fix typically involves correcting access control mechanisms and input validation within the PrintWorkflowUserSvc service. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement and reduce the attack surface. Additional protective measures include monitoring for unusual service behavior, implementing least privilege principles for print services, and conducting regular security assessments of print infrastructure components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which describes improper access control, and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. System administrators should disable unnecessary print services when possible and maintain updated security baselines to reduce exposure risk.