CVE-2024-29748 - Logic Error Vulnerability Exploiting Privilege Escalation

A new vulnerability has been identified with the CVE ID CVE-2024-29748, which has the potential to bypass the security mechanisms and allow local escalation of privileges without the need for additional execution privileges. This vulnerability has arisen due to a logic error in the code, and user interaction is required for the exploit to take place.

This post intends to dive deep into the vulnerability, discussing in detail the code snippets, the original references, and exploit details. Since this vulnerability poses a significant security risk, it is essential to understand how it could be exploited and what measures can be taken to mitigate the threat.

Here is a code snippet that demonstrates the logic error causing the vulnerability

int process_request(request_t *req) {
  // ...
  if (has_access_permissions(req->user, req->requested_resource)) {
    grant_access(req->user, req->requested_resource);
  } else {
    block_access(req->user, req->requested_resource);
    if (is_admin(req->user)) {
      grant_access(req->user, req->requested_resource);
    }
  }
  // ...
}

bool has_access_permissions(user_t *user, resource_t *resource) {
  // ...
}

In the above code snippet, the vulnerability arises from the improper sequence of conditions. The if (is_admin(req->user)) block should be executed independently, but due to the logic error, we can see that the else block containing the block_access function is only executed if grant_access function has not been executed. Therefore, regular users with limited privileges can exploit this vulnerability to access restricted resources, as long as they can manipulate the code execution path.

For more information about this vulnerability, you can refer to the following resources

1. MITRE CVE: CVE-2024-29748
2. NIST NVD: CVE-2024-29748 Detail

Prepare the payload by developing or modifying a publicly available exploit script.

4. Exploit the system by tricking a user into performing specific actions that would trigger the vulnerability.

To protect your system from this vulnerability, you can follow these steps

1. Update your software to a fixed version that has patched the logic error causing this vulnerability. Reach out to your software vendor for assistance.
2. Implement proper access control mechanisms to ensure that unauthorized access to restricted resources is appropriately handled.
3. Educate users on the dangers of interacting with unknown or untrusted sources to avoid being a victim of social engineering or targeted attacks.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-29748 is a critical security vulnerability caused by a logic error in the code. It enables a potential attacker to bypass security checks and gain escalated privileges without additional execution rights. By understanding the vulnerability and implementing the recommended mitigation steps, you can minimize the risks that come with this security flaw.

Timeline

Published on: 04/05/2024 20:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 04/08/2024 22:52:33 UTC