If you’re managing Windows tablets or tablet-enabled PCs, security threats can come from unexpected places—even the UI applications you rely on every day. In early 2022, Microsoft patched a serious issue known as CVE-2022-24460, which allowed attackers to elevate their privileges using the Tablet Windows UI. This long-read post will break down what this means, how the exploit works, and what you should do to stay protected. We’ll also dive into code snippets for context and provide direct links to the official resources.

What Is CVE-2022-24460?

Microsoft describes CVE-2022-24460 as an Elevation of Privilege (EoP) vulnerability in the Windows Tablet User Interface Application. Essentially, this means that someone without full admin rights could gain them by exploiting the way the tablet UI app interacts with Windows.

Affected Versions:  
Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server versions with tablet UI features.  
Severity: High (CVSS score: 7.8)  
Attack Vector: Local (an attacker needs access to the target device)

How Does the Vulnerability Work?

The Windows Tablet User Interface, or Tablet Input Panel (TabTip.exe), manages handwriting input and on-screen keyboards. On vulnerable systems, TabTip.exe could be tricked into running in the security context of a more privileged user.

The core problem occurs when the tablet UI application improperly handles permissions for certain system objects during its routine operations. If an attacker can inject code or manipulate the app at the right moment, they can escalate their privileges.

Code Snippet Example

Here's a hypothetical example, for educational purposes only, showing how an attacker might attempt to inject code that interacts with TabTip.exe:

#include <windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>

// Attempts to launch Cmd.exe via the TabletInputPanel
int main() {
    STARTUPINFO si = { sizeof(si) };
    PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;

    // Path to TabletInputPanel
    const char* tabTipPath = "C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\microsoft shared\\ink\\TabTip.exe";

    if (CreateProcess(tabTipPath, NULL, NULL, NULL, FALSE, , NULL, NULL, &si, &pi)) {
        printf("TabletInputPanel started.\n");

        // Simulated attack: launching an elevated command prompt
        system("cmd.exe");

        CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);
        CloseHandle(pi.hThread);
    } else {
        printf("Failed to start TabletInputPanel.\n");
    }

    return ;
}

In a real attack, the code would exploit weak permissions to inject commands or DLLs into the process, effectively taking over the system with admin rights.

How Was It Exploited?

According to several security researchers, the vulnerability allowed attackers with just local user access, such as standard account holders or malware running under a user profile, to run more powerful commands typically restricted to administrators.

Attacker logs in as a standard user

- Finds a way to hook into the Tablet Input Panel via IPC (inter-process communication) or scripting

Attacker's privileges are escalated

While the exploit specifics haven’t been widely published for safety reasons, proof-of-concept (PoC) tools have been created in private circles.

Microsoft’s Patch

Microsoft released patches as part of the February 2022 Patch Tuesday. The update improved permission checking and hardened communication between user-level and system-level processes.

Official Microsoft Security Advisory:

MSRC CVE-2022-24460

Important: Updating Windows through Windows Update or your enterprise’s management system fully fixes this issue.

Home Users: Attackers would likely need physical access or malware preinstalled.

- Enterprises: A compromised user account could have led to lateral movement and deeper network penetration via privilege escalation.

References

- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2022-24460
- Zero Day Initiative Advisory – ZDI-22-219
- Microsoft Patch Tuesday – February 2022
- NVD Details for CVE-2022-24460

Closing Thoughts

CVE-2022-24460 highlights how even UI components can introduce serious security risks. If you manage or use a Windows device with tablet capabilities, make sure you’re fully patched. As always, keep your systems updated and be vigilant for signs of privilege escalation. A few simple actions can protect you from serious threats that hide in plain sight.

Timeline

Published on: 03/09/2022 17:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 05/23/2022 17:29:00 UTC