CVE-2024-9157 in Audio Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2025
** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED **
A privilege escalation vulnerability in CxUIUSvc64.exe and CxUIUSvc32.exe of Synaptics audio drivers allows a local authorized attacker to load a DLL in a privileged process.
Out of an abundance of caution, this CVE ID is being assigned to better serve our customers and ensure all who are still running this product understand that the product is End-of-Life and should be removed. For more information on this, refer to the CVE Record’s reference information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9157 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Synaptics audio driver components, specifically affecting the CxUIUSvc64.exe and CxUIUSvc32.exe services. This issue arises from improper privilege handling within the driver architecture, creating a pathway for local attackers to elevate their system privileges through malicious DLL loading operations. The vulnerability exists in the context of legacy driver services that have reached end-of-life status, making the exploitation particularly concerning for organizations still operating unsupported software environments.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper privilege separation within the Synaptics audio driver service architecture. When these services execute, they fail to properly validate dynamic link library (DLL) loading operations, allowing an authenticated local user to inject malicious code into the privileged process space. This represents a classic case of insecure dynamic code loading, which aligns with CWE-706: Use of Incorrectly-Resolved Name or Reference. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege, where a service designed to operate with elevated privileges fails to implement proper security boundaries that would prevent unauthorized code injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a persistent backdoor within affected systems. An attacker who has already gained local access can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vector requires only local authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user accounts may be compromised through social engineering or other means. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, where attackers exploit software vulnerabilities to gain elevated system privileges.
Organizations should immediately assess their systems for the presence of affected Synaptics audio drivers and implement comprehensive removal of the unsupported software. The end-of-life status of these drivers means that no security updates or patches will be forthcoming, rendering any mitigation efforts ineffective. System administrators should conduct thorough inventory audits to identify all instances of the vulnerable services and ensure complete removal through proper driver uninstallation processes. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to minimize the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software inventory and implementing robust end-of-life management policies to prevent exploitation of legacy systems.