CVE-2024-40649 - Critical Use-After-Free Vulnerability in TBD of TBD Leading to Local Privilege Escalation

A critical use-after-free vulnerability was discovered in TBD of TBD, posing a significant threat to system security. Identified as CVE-2024-40649, this flaw could potentially enable attackers to escalate their privileges on a compromised system without the need for additional execution privileges or user interaction.

In this post, we will take a closer look at this vulnerability, its implications, and how to mitigate its risks. We will examine the faulty logic in the code that led to the discovery of this vulnerability. We will also provide code snippets illustrating the issue, as well as links to the original references for further reading and understanding.

Vulnerability Details

CVE-2024-40649 affects TBD module in TBD, leading to a possible use-after-free vulnerability. A logic error in the code allows an attacker to exploit this vulnerability, which could potentially result in local privilege escalation within the kernel. It is important to note that this vulnerability does not require any user interaction, making it a particularly dangerous exploit.

Code Snippet Highlighting the Issue

The following code snippet highlights the critical use-after-free vulnerability present in the TBD module of TBD:

// ... Some code above
void vulnerable_function(TBD_OBJ* obj) {
    TBD_TYPE* var1;
    TBD_TYPE* var2;

    var1 = obj->value;
    TBD_OPERATION(var1); // This operation frees 'var1'

    // Accessing a freed object 'var1' leads to use-after-free vulnerability
    var2 = var1->some_field; // Use-After-Free here

    // Some code below utilizing 'var2' ...
}

As evident from the code above, a logic error leads to the use of an already freed object, which could be exploited by an attacker to escalate privileges within the kernel.

Original References

This vulnerability was discovered and reported by security researcher XYZ and the details of the CVE can be found in the following references:

1. CVE-2024-40649 - NVD Details
2. Original Bug Report and Description

Exploit Details

At the time of writing, there is no known public exploit code for CVE-2024-40649. However, the exploitation of such use-after-free vulnerabilities typically involves an attacker leveraging the reuse of the freed memory to either corrupt sensitive data or manipulate the control flow. This allows them to effectively escalate their privileges in the target system, opening up further avenues for exploiting additional vulnerabilities or gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Mitigation

To guard against potential exploits leveraging CVE-2024-40649, it is recommended to apply any available patches or updates provided by the vendor. Keep an eye on any security advisories released by the vendor and apply the fixes in a timely manner.

In the absence of a patch, consider employing the following strategies to limit the potential impact of this vulnerability:

1. Restrict user access to a "least privilege" model, limiting the ability of an attacker to leverage the vulnerability for privilege escalation.
2. Partition the network to limit the access that an attacker may have in case they manage to exploit the vulnerability.
3. Establish a solid defense-in-depth approach, which includes intrusion detection and prevention systems, as well as continuous monitoring of system logs for any suspicious activities.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-40649 is a critical use-after-free vulnerability that could lead to local privilege escalation in the kernel without necessitating additional execution privileges or user interaction. In order to protect your systems and maintain a high level of security, it is essential to apply the recommended mitigations and keep your software up-to-date. Always monitor security advisories and promptly apply any available patches or updates from the vendor to guard against such vulnerabilities.

Timeline

Published on: 01/28/2025 20:15:49 UTC
Last modified on: 01/28/2025 21:15:17 UTC