CVE-2024-26174 - Windows Kernel Information Disclosure Vulnerability: Analysis, Exploit Details, and Mitigation

The CVE-2024-26174 vulnerability is an important information disclosure vulnerability that exists in the Windows operating system kernel. It enables attackers to collect sensitive data from the memory of affected systems, potentially exposing critical information such as passwords, encryption keys, and other system information. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of Windows and could potentially be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.

In this post, we will take a closer look at CVE-2024-26174, including a code snippet to demonstrate the vulnerability and a description of the exploit details. Moreover, we will also provide relevant links to original references and suggest some possible mitigation strategies.

A simple example that demonstrates this vulnerability can be found in the following code snippet

#include <Windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>

#define IOCTL_VULN_FUNCTION CTL_CODE(FILE_DEVICE_UNKNOWN, x800, METHOD_NEITHER, FILE_ANY_ACCESS)

int main() {
    HANDLE hDevice;
    DWORD dwReturnBytes;

    hDevice = CreateFileA("\\\\.\\VulnerableDevice",
        GENERIC_READ | GENERIC_WRITE,
        FILE_SHARE_READ | FILE_SHARE_WRITE,
        NULL,
        OPEN_EXISTING,
        FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL,
        NULL
    );

    if (hDevice == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
        printf("[-] Failed to open the vulnerable device. Error: %d\n", GetLastError());
        return 1;
    }

    char buffer[4096] = {};
    DeviceIoControl(hDevice,
        IOCTL_VULN_FUNCTION,
        NULL,
        ,
        buffer,
        sizeof(buffer),
        &dwReturnBytes,
        NULL
    );

    printf("[+] Buffer contents: %s\n", buffer);

    CloseHandle(hDevice);
    return ;
}

This code snippet demonstrates how an attacker can interact with the affected device driver to disclose sensitive information. The vulnerability lies in the improper handling of IOCTL requests in the IOCTL_VULN_FUNCTION function within the affected driver.

Exploit Details

The exploit for CVE-2024-26174 could potentially allow an attacker with local user privileges to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information. The attacker can achieve this by manipulating IOCTL requests, which are often used in Windows to perform low-level device communications, such as direct hardware operations.

Moreover, a sufficiently skilled attacker may leverage this vulnerability to move laterally within a network and escalate their privileges. An information disclosure vulnerability like CVE-2024-26174 can provide valuable intelligence for attackers, making it a critical threat.

For more information about CVE-2024-26174, readers are encouraged to visit the following references

- Microsoft Security Advisory for CVE-2024-26174
- CVE Details: CVE-2024-26174
- National Vulnerability Database (NVD) - CVE-2024-26174

To mitigate the potential impact of CVE-2024-26174, the following steps can be taken

1. Update affected systems: Microsoft has released patches for the affected Windows operating systems. It is crucial to apply these updates promptly to protect your systems from this vulnerability.

2. Use strong authentication methods: Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible to ensure that attackers cannot easily compromise user accounts even if they have access to sensitive information.

3. Limit local access: By restricting user privileges and local system access, you can reduce the risk of potential exploit on vulnerable systems. Implementing the principle of least privilege will minimize the possibility of an attacker exploiting this vulnerability.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-26174 is a critical information disclosure vulnerability in the Windows kernel that requires immediate attention from system administrators, as it can expose sensitive data and potentially be exploited in privilege escalation attacks. Admins should apply the necessary patches to affected systems and take preventive measures to restrict local access and enforce strong authentication methods.

Timeline

Published on: 03/12/2024 17:15:56 UTC
Last modified on: 03/12/2024 17:46:17 UTC