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The Windows kernel is at the heart of every Windows operating system. When vulnerabilities show up here, they can lead to critical security risks – such as attackers gaining higher privileges than they should have.

One of the latest kernel vulnerabilities is CVE-2024-38153. If you’re looking to understand how it works, how malicious users can exploit it, and what you should do about it, this article breaks down the technical details in clear, simple terms.

What Is CVE-2024-38153?

CVE-2024-38153 is an Elevation of Privilege (EoP) vulnerability in the Microsoft Windows kernel. It allows a local attacker (someone who can run code on the computer) to gain _SYSTEM_ privileges — the highest level on Windows.

Create new accounts with full user rights

This can essentially let regular malware take over your entire machine.

Technical Details

Microsoft's official advisory: Microsoft Security Update Guide on CVE-2024-38153

The vulnerability is in how the Windows kernel handles certain requests from user programs to the kernel (via system calls), specifically in how it validates user-supplied data copied from user mode to kernel mode. A lack of proper bounds or access checks allows an attacker to craft a request that tricks the kernel into performing actions it shouldn’t.

A Simple Explanation

Imagine Windows as a high-rise office building. The kernel is the building manager that controls who goes where. Normally, employees (user-mode programs) can only enter rooms they're authorized for. But because of a flaw (CVE-2024-38153), clever intruders can pretend to be janitors and get a master key to every room, including the boss’s office.

Vulnerable Component

- Affected Windows versions: Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server (varies by patch level, check the advisory)

Attacker gains access (maybe by phishing or running a malicious program).

2. They run a crafted exploit on the machine, which makes a special call to a Windows kernel function, passing it malicious data.
3. Due to the bug, kernel trusts the attacker’s data and modifies memory or process objects it shouldn’t touch.

What’s Needed?

- The attacker must already be able to run code on the target machine (local privilege escalation – not a remote exploit).

Example: What Does the Code Look Like?

Microsoft hasn’t published full proof-of-concept code, but based on public research and kernel bugs of this type, here is a simple logic of how such exploits typically look:

#### Sample Exploit Skeleton (for education/testing only!)

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

int main() {
    HANDLE hDevice;
    DWORD bytesReturned;
    BYTE maliciousInput[x100];

    // Fill with carefully crafted data
    ZeroMemory(maliciousInput, sizeof(maliciousInput));
    // (Here, set up malicious structures to trigger the bug)

    // Open a handle to the device (often "\\.\DeviceName")
    hDevice = CreateFileA(
        "\\\\.\\SomeVulnerableDevice",   // Device or driver name
        GENERIC_READ | GENERIC_WRITE,
        , NULL, OPEN_EXISTING, , NULL);

    if (hDevice == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
        printf("Cannot open device!\n");
        return 1;
    }

    // Send the data with DeviceIoControl (kernel call)
    DeviceIoControl(
        hDevice,
        xABCD1234,             // IOCTL code (varies by driver/function)
        maliciousInput,
        sizeof(maliciousInput),
        NULL, , &bytesReturned, NULL);

    printf("Exploit sent!\n");

    // Check if privileges elevated, e.g., spawn a SYSTEM shell
    // ...

    CloseHandle(hDevice);
    return ;
}

Note: The exact structure of the exploit, the IOCTL code, and data will differ. Kernel exploits are very version-specific. This skeleton shows the general logic.

Real-World Exploit

As of June 2024, there is no public “weaponized” exploit code available. However, researchers at cyber security companies have shown that such bugs are easy to exploit once details become known, and attackers often reverse-engineer Microsoft's patches to find working exploits.

- Proof-of-Concept notes by ZDI (Check official ZDI page for updates)
- Other reference: Microsoft Security Update Guide

1. Apply Windows Updates ASAP

This is the only fully effective fix. Microsoft has released patches to block exploitation.

You can check if your machine is patched by running winver.

- Download updates manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Watch for new local privilege escalations or unknown services being installed.

- Use Sysmon or EDR tools to detect odd behavior.

Learn More

- CVE-2024-38153 at NIST NVD
- Microsoft Patch Tuesday June 2024 Summary

In Summary

CVE-2024-38153 is a serious kernel bug that could let attackers jump from regular user to full system access with minimal effort, if left unpatched. Even though it can’t be exploited over the network, local privilege escalation is a critical step in many real attacks.

Patch your systems now, and stay aware of what’s running on your machines. Security in layers is your best approach – defense, detection, and least privilege.

- Windows Kernel Exploitation Basics (F-Secure Labs)
- Project Zero: Kernel pool exploitation (Google Project Zero)

Timeline

Published on: 08/13/2024 18:15:20 UTC
Last modified on: 10/16/2024 01:53:43 UTC