The digital workspace is quickly moving towards a mobile-first era, and with this shift, companies depend heavily on tools like Microsoft Intune to keep mobile devices secure and compliant. But even the best tools have their cracks. In early 2022, security researchers discovered a potentially dangerous flaw, tracked as CVE-2022-24465, in the Microsoft Intune Portal app for iOS. This vulnerability, if exploited, could let attackers sneak around key security restrictions. In this article, we will break down what this bug is, how it works, and what you can do to protect your environment.

What is CVE-2022-24465?

CVE-2022-24465 refers to a _security feature bypass vulnerability_ in the Microsoft Intune Portal for iOS. This app is designed to ensure that organizational devices remain compliant with company standards—enforcing policies like device encryption, passcode settings, and application restrictions.

However, due to improper implementation of certain security checks, attackers could potentially bypass these restrictions under specific circumstances. As a result, devices that should have been blocked from accessing sensitive data may have slipped through the cracks.

How Does the Exploit Work?

At its core, the vulnerability relates to the Intune Portal’s process of verifying device compliance. Normally, the app checks device status (e.g., if the device is jailbroken or passcode protected) before granting access to corporate resources. The problem lies in how these checks were performed and trusted by the Intune backend.

Technical Walkthrough

Imagine a device is non-compliant: it’s jailbroken or missing a required security setting. The expected behavior is blocking access. But, due to CVE-2022-24465, a malicious user could manipulate the communication between the Intune app and backend services.

Here’s a simplified breakdown

1. App Processing Logic Flaw: The verification logic on the device failed to properly validate the compliance state.

API Interaction: An attacker could intercept or replay API requests from the Intune Portal app.

3. Tampered Requests: By crafting a request indicating a compliant state (e.g., using an intercepting proxy like Burp Suite), the attacker could trick the backend into granting access.

Example Pseudocode for the Exploit

import requests

# Simulate a compliant device status
data = {
    'device_id': 'attacker_device_123',
    'compliance_state': 'compliant',
    'os_version': '15.',
    'token': 'valid_intune_jwt_token'
}

response = requests.post("https://intuneendpoint.microsoft.com/device/compliance";, json=data)

if response.status_code == 200:
    print("Exploit successful: Device marked as compliant!")
else:
    print("Exploit failed.")

*Note: Real-world exploitation would require advanced knowledge and skills (e.g., reverse engineering, intercepting traffic, obtaining tokens, etc.). Above code is for illustrative purposes only.*

Real-World Impact

This flaw was a classic _security feature bypass_: users with non-compliant or compromised devices (such as jailbroken iPhones) could potentially continue accessing sensitive corporate data. This risked leaking confidential documents, emails, or access to critical internal apps.

Scenario

Imagine a user has jailbroken their iPhone. Normally, IT wants to block such devices. With this vulnerability, however, the user (or a malicious actor with access) could make it look like the device was perfectly compliant, bypassing all company restrictions.

How Microsoft Responded

Microsoft addressed CVE-2022-24465 in version 5.2203. of the Intune Portal for iOS. The fixed version improved the way compliance states are validated both on the device and on the Intune service backend.

Update your Intune Portal App to the newest version!  
Updates can be found on the Apple App Store and Microsoft’s official release notes.

What You Should Do

1. Check Your Mobile Fleet: Make sure no employees are running an older version of the Intune Portal for iOS.
2. Enforce App Updates: Use Intune or Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies to force all users to update their apps regularly.
3. Monitor Compliance Logs: Regularly check device compliance logs for suspicious activity or anomalies.

References and Further Reading

- Microsoft Security Response Center Advisory
- Microsoft Intune Company Portal App Updates
- Original CVE entry

Conclusion

CVE-2022-24465 is a solid example of how even trusted security tools can contain critical flaws if not properly implemented or updated. Always keep your device management apps patched, maintain a healthy security culture, and keep an eye on industry advisories. With our workplaces becoming more mobile each year, the stakes—and the need for vigilance—are higher than ever.

Timeline

Published on: 03/09/2022 17:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 03/14/2022 19:00:00 UTC