CVE-2024-49125 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2026
The Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) represents a critical component within Microsoft's networking infrastructure that provides essential services including routing, remote access, and network address translation capabilities. This service operates with elevated privileges and maintains connections to various network protocols, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to establish persistent access within enterprise environments. The vulnerability in question stems from improper validation of input parameters within the RRAS service implementation, specifically when processing remote requests that contain malformed data structures. This flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system with the same privileges as the RRAS service itself, which typically runs with local system privileges. The vulnerability manifests when the RRAS service processes incoming packets that contain specially crafted data sequences designed to trigger buffer overflow conditions or other memory corruption scenarios within the service's processing routines. The affected versions include Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019, where the service remains enabled by default in many configurations. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and also aligns with CWE-122, describing heap-based buffer overflow scenarios that can occur when the service handles dynamic memory allocation for incoming network data. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and lateral movement within the network. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges to domain administrator levels, and conduct advanced persistent threat operations. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the RRAS service often runs on servers that are not heavily monitored or hardened, making it an attractive target for reconnaissance and exploitation phases of cyber operations. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability corresponds to T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, while also supporting T1566 for initial access through network service exploitation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be exploited over the network, allowing attackers to compromise systems without needing valid credentials or physical access. Network traffic analysis reveals that exploitation typically involves sending specially crafted packets to specific ports that the RRAS service listens on, including TCP ports 1723 and UDP port 1701, which are commonly used for PPTP and L2TP protocols respectively. The exploitation process can be automated through various penetration testing frameworks and commercial exploit development tools, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented. Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate RRAS services from critical network segments, disable unnecessary remote access protocols, and ensure that all systems are patched with the latest Microsoft security updates. The recommended mitigations include disabling RRAS services on systems that do not require routing or remote access capabilities, implementing strict firewall rules to limit access to RRAS ports, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify systems running vulnerable versions of the service. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts, and security teams should implement robust incident response procedures to handle potential compromise scenarios. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege implementation, where services should run with minimal required privileges and network access to reduce potential attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control lists and intrusion detection systems to provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts targeting the RRAS service and similar network infrastructure components.