CVE-2024-49101 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
Wireless Wide Area Network Service (WwanSvc) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2026
The Wireless Wide Area Network Service (WwanSvc) elevation of privilege vulnerability represents a critical security flaw within Windows operating systems that allows malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level execution. This vulnerability specifically targets the Windows WWAN service which manages wireless wide area network connections including cellular data services. The flaw exists in how the service handles certain privilege checks and access controls during the processing of network connection requests, creating an opportunity for unauthorized code execution with elevated privileges.
This vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the WwanSvc component that fails to properly validate the privileges of processes attempting to interact with the service. The technical implementation flaw manifests when the service accepts and processes requests from unprivileged user contexts without sufficient authorization verification. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resources, as the service improperly manages access permissions for critical system resources. The flaw allows attackers to exploit the service's trust model and manipulate its behavior through crafted inputs or process injection techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges, enabling complete system compromise. Once exploited, the attacker can access all system resources, modify critical files, install malicious software, and potentially establish persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability affects multiple Windows versions including Windows 10 and Windows 11, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these operating systems are prevalent. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various attack vectors including malicious email attachments, compromised websites, or direct exploitation of the service interface. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that the WWAN service is typically enabled by default on devices supporting cellular connectivity, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application through Microsoft's regular security updates, which address the underlying privilege validation issues in the WwanSvc service. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of systems running the affected service and consider disabling WWAN functionality when not required. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, with specific techniques involving service manipulation and privilege escalation through system service vulnerabilities. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual process behavior related to WWAN service interactions, implementing application whitelisting policies, and conducting regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider using least privilege principles and regularly review service configurations to ensure that unnecessary services remain disabled. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege separation in system services and demonstrates how seemingly minor access control flaws can result in complete system compromise.