Critical Zero-Day Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability in Windows Kernel (CVE-2024-38106) – Why Immediate Action is Necessary

A critical zero-day vulnerability has emerged in the Windows kernel, tracked as CVE-2024-38106, that presents a serious risk to enterprises. This elevation of privilege vulnerability, rated with a CVSS score of 7.0, could allow attackers to gain SYSTEM-level privileges on an affected device. Discovered as a race condition in the Windows kernel, this flaw was patched by Microsoft during their August 2024 Patch Tuesday update. However, the release of a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit on GitHub over the weekend has intensified the urgency to apply these patches.

What is CVE-2024-38106?

The vulnerability resides in the Windows kernel due to improper locking in calls to the function VslGetSetSecureContext(), specifically when entering VslpEnterIumSecureMode(). Attackers could trigger a use-after-free condition, leading to arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges. The flaw allows a local attacker to manipulate kernel memory, potentially gaining complete control over the affected system.

Patch Analysis

Security experts at PixiePoint Security analyzed Microsoft’s patch for CVE-2024-38106, revealing the root cause as improper memory management in the kernel. Attackers can exploit this flaw by freeing objects while they are still in use, corrupting memory and escalating their privileges. The patch ensures proper locking mechanisms are applied during these sensitive operations, preventing race conditions that could lead to such vulnerabilities.

Urgent Action Required

With the public availability of the PoC exploit, the risk of exploitation in the wild has significantly increased. Microsoft has labeled the exploitability of this vulnerability as “exploitation more likely”, making it critical for organizations to apply the August 2024 Patch Tuesday updates without delay.

Affected systems include Windows 11, Windows Server 2022, and some older supported versions of Windows. While there are no confirmed reports of active exploitation yet, the release of the PoC suggests it is only a matter of time before threat actors begin leveraging this vulnerability.

Other Critical Vulnerabilities to Address

This zero-day is part of a broader set of vulnerabilities patched by Microsoft, including:

• CVE-2024-38063 – A zero-click remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in the Windows TCP/IP stack.
• Several other privilege escalation and remote code execution (RCE) flaws.

Organizations must prioritize patching these vulnerabilities to minimize their risk.

How VAPT Can Help: Strengthening Your Cybersecurity Posture

At Indian Cyber Security Solutions, we understand the critical importance of staying ahead of evolving cyber threats. Vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-38106 can be devastating if exploited, which is why Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) should be a vital component of your cybersecurity strategy.

With our VAPT services, we help organizations proactively identify security flaws in their systems before threat actors can exploit them. Our experts use advanced tools and techniques to simulate real-world attacks, testing the security of your infrastructure and applications against the latest vulnerabilities.

By regularly conducting VAPT assessments, your organization can:

• Identify security gaps that could lead to exploitation.
• Gain insights into potential attack vectors that threat actors may target.
• Ensure that critical vulnerabilities, such as CVE-2024-38106, are addressed in a timely manner.
• Strengthen your overall security posture and comply with regulatory standards.

With the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, VAPT is not just a one-time task—it’s a continuous process. Our team at Indian Cyber Security Solutions is dedicated to helping you stay ahead of potential attacks by providing a comprehensive and strategic approach to vulnerability management.

Act Now to Secure Your Business

Given the serious nature of CVE-2024-38106 and the availability of a public PoC exploit, it is imperative that organizations act swiftly. Patch your systems immediately to prevent any exploitation and consider engaging in regular VAPT services to uncover and remediate vulnerabilities before attackers do.

Protect your business today. Get in touch with Indian Cyber Security Solutions to learn more about how our VAPT services can safeguard your organization against critical threats like CVE-2024-38106.