CVE-2024-49099 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
Windows Wireless Wide Area Network Service (WwanSvc) Information Disclosure Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2024
This vulnerability resides within the Windows Wireless Wide Area Network service known as WwanSvc which manages cellular connectivity and wireless network operations on Windows systems. The flaw represents an information disclosure weakness that allows unauthorized access to sensitive system data through improper handling of network communication protocols. According to industry standards, this maps to CWE-200 - "Information Exposure" and potentially CWE-425 - "Direct Request" when attackers can directly access internal resources without proper authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when the WwanSvc service fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming network requests, creating opportunities for malicious actors to extract system information that should remain protected.
The technical implementation of this weakness occurs at the service level where the WwanSvc component processes wireless network commands and responses without adequate input validation controls. When legitimate network operations occur through cellular connections, the service may inadvertently expose internal system details including connection parameters, device identifiers, or network configuration data to unauthorized parties. This information disclosure can happen during normal operation when the service handles network management protocols such as those used by 3G, 4G, and 5G cellular networks. The flaw operates at the application layer within the Windows operating system, specifically affecting services that interface with mobile network hardware and communication protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information exposure as it can enable more sophisticated attacks through reconnaissance phases. An attacker who successfully exploits this weakness gains access to valuable data about the target system's wireless connectivity configuration, which can be used to plan further attacks or identify potential network entry points. The disclosure may include details about installed cellular modems, connection status information, signal strength metrics, and potentially even authentication credentials used for cellular network access. This intelligence gathering capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1082 - "System Information Discovery" and can support broader reconnaissance efforts in network penetration testing scenarios.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and access control measures within the WwanSvc component to prevent unauthorized data exposure during normal wireless network operations. System administrators should ensure that Windows updates are applied promptly to address known vulnerabilities in wireless networking services, as Microsoft typically releases security patches for such flaws through regular update cycles. Network segmentation approaches can help limit the scope of potential information disclosure by isolating wireless network components from critical internal systems. Additionally, monitoring and logging mechanisms should be configured to detect unusual patterns in wireless network service access that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious traffic patterns associated with wireless protocol manipulation and unauthorized information extraction attempts.