CVE-2024-21412 - HIGH - CWE-693 Protection Mechanism Failure

Executive Summary

CVE-2024-21412 is a significant security vulnerability affecting various versions of Microsoft Windows. This vulnerability, currently identified by its CVE number, carries a CVSS score of 8.1, classifying it as HIGH severity. The root cause and precise mechanism of the vulnerability are not detailed in provided data, but the potential impact is high, as successful exploitation could lead to a compromise of confidentiality and integrity. Given the presence of public exploits and its inclusion in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, organizations using affected Windows versions should prioritize patching immediately.

Vulnerability Snapshot

Technical Deep Dive

While the specific technical details of CVE-2024-21412 are not fully provided in the input, the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) ID CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure provides a clue. This suggests that the vulnerability stems from a flaw in how Windows implements its security mechanisms. It may involve a failure to properly validate input, enforce access controls, or adequately protect sensitive data.

Given the CVSS vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N/E:F/RL:O/RC:C, we can deduce further information:

• AV:N (Network): The vulnerability is exploitable over the network.
• AC:L (Low): The attack complexity is low, indicating that the vulnerability is relatively easy to exploit.
• PR:N (None): No privileges are required to exploit the vulnerability.
• UI:R (User Interaction): User interaction is required for exploitation. This likely means an attacker needs to trick a user into performing some action, such as clicking a link or opening a malicious file.
• S:U (Unchanged): The security scope is unchanged, meaning the attacker's access is limited to the user's privileges.
• C:H (High): There is a high impact on confidentiality; the attacker could gain access to sensitive information.
• I:H (High): There is a high impact on integrity; the attacker could modify data or system configuration.
• A:N (None): There is no impact on availability.

In summary, the vulnerability likely involves a network-exploitable flaw that an attacker can easily trigger with user interaction, potentially leading to the compromise of sensitive data and system integrity.

Proof-of-Concept (POC) Insights

Public exploits are reportedly available for CVE-2024-21412.

• A potential exploit can be found on Exploit-DB: https://www.exploit-db.com/search?cve=2024-21412

The existence of public exploits significantly increases the risk associated with this vulnerability, as it makes it easier for attackers to develop and deploy working exploits.

Warning: POC code is intended for educational and research purposes only. Executing POC code can cause harm and may be illegal. Use extreme caution.

Threat Actor Activity

According to the provided data, the following threat actors are associated with this vulnerability:

• apt
• capture
• APT29
• apt & targeted attacks
• Following Team

This suggests that CVE-2024-21412 is being actively targeted by advanced persistent threat (APT) groups, as well as other types of attackers. APT groups are typically state-sponsored or well-funded cybercriminal organizations that conduct sophisticated and targeted attacks. APT29, in particular, is a well-known Russian intelligence group. The fact that this vulnerability is being leveraged by these actors highlights its significance and the urgency of patching. Given the "capture" and "Following Team" mentions, it is likely used for both opportunistic mass exploitation and targeted attacks.

Impact Assessment

The CVSS score of 8.1 (HIGH) indicates a significant potential impact. Successful exploitation of CVE-2024-21412 could lead to:

• Confidentiality: The attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, such as user credentials, financial data, or intellectual property.
• Integrity: The attacker could modify system files, install malware, or alter data, potentially leading to system instability or data corruption.
• Availability: While the CVSS vector indicates no direct impact on availability, a successful compromise could lead to denial-of-service conditions or system downtime as a secondary effect.

Given that public exploits are available and the vulnerability is being actively exploited, organizations that do not patch promptly are at significant risk of compromise.

For organizations using AWS PaaS environments, the impact is less direct but still relevant. Standard cloud security practices should be followed to mitigate the risk.

Cloud Service Provider Implications

While the provided data indicates limited direct relevance to cloud service providers, it's crucial to assess the implications for those running PaaS offerings on AWS infrastructure:

• Indirect Impact: If the underlying Windows infrastructure of AWS PaaS services is vulnerable and exploited, applications and services hosted on those platforms could be indirectly affected.
• Customer-Managed Components: If customers are responsible for managing certain aspects of their PaaS deployments (e.g., custom code, configuration), they may be vulnerable if they are running affected Windows versions.
• Blast Radius: In multi-tenant environments, a successful exploitation could potentially affect multiple tenants if proper isolation mechanisms are not in place.
• Compliance: Data residency or compliance requirements could be violated if sensitive data is exposed due to the vulnerability.
• Security Control Bypass: The vulnerability could potentially be used to bypass existing security controls.

Cloud service providers and their customers should monitor this vulnerability closely and apply patches promptly.

Mitigation and Remediation

The primary mitigation strategy is to update to the latest version of the affected software. Microsoft has likely released patches to address this vulnerability. Given that CISA has added this vulnerability to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, federal agencies are required to remediate it, further emphasizing the urgency.

Specific patches and workarounds may be available in vendor advisories. Check the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) for detailed information.

In addition to patching, consider the following:

• Network Segmentation: Implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of a compromise.
• Principle of Least Privilege: Ensure that users and applications have only the necessary privileges.
• Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities.
• Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): Deploy IDS/IPS to detect and block malicious traffic.

For AWS environments, leverage cloud-native security controls such as:

• AWS Security Groups: Use Security Groups to control network traffic to and from EC2 instances.
• AWS WAF: Use AWS WAF to protect web applications from common web exploits.
• AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM): Use IAM to enforce the principle of least privilege.

References

• Microsoft Security Response Center: CVE-2024-21412
• CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
• MITRE CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure
• Microsoft Windows Security Updates

Conclusion

CVE-2024-21412 is a HIGH severity vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows that is actively being exploited by threat actors. The existence of public exploits and its inclusion in the CISA KEV catalog underscore the urgency of patching. Organizations should prioritize updating their systems to the latest versions and implementing appropriate security controls to mitigate the risk. While the direct impact on cloud service providers may be limited, it's crucial to monitor the situation closely and take proactive measures to protect AWS-hosted applications and services.

Stay vigilant, patch promptly, and maintain a strong security posture.