CVE-2024-0832: Telerik Reporting Privilege Escalation

CVE-2024-0832 Overview

CVE-2024-0832 is a local privilege elevation vulnerability in the Progress Telerik Reporting installer component. The flaw affects all Telerik Reporting versions prior to 2024 R1. In environments where Telerik Reporting is already installed, a lower-privileged user can manipulate the installation package to elevate privileges on the underlying operating system. The vulnerability is categorized under [CWE-269] Improper Privilege Management. Progress has published a knowledge base article documenting the issue and the available remediation path.

Critical Impact

A local, low-privileged attacker can escalate to a higher privilege level on Windows hosts where a vulnerable Telerik Reporting installation is present, gaining full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Affected Products

• Progress Telerik Reporting versions prior to 2024 R1
• Windows hosts with an existing Telerik Reporting installation
• Environments using the legacy Telerik Reporting installer component

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-01-31 - CVE CVE-2024-0832 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-0832

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Telerik Reporting installer component used by the product suite. When a Telerik Reporting installation is already present on a system, the installer package can be manipulated by a lower-privileged user during repair, modify, or reinstall operations. The installer runs with elevated rights, so unsafe handling of installer-controlled paths or files allows an attacker to influence what the privileged process executes. The result is local privilege escalation on the underlying operating system.

The CWE-269 classification indicates improper privilege management within the installer logic. Exploitation requires local access and low privileges, but no user interaction is needed once the attacker triggers the installer flow. The EPSS probability sits at 0.67%, reflecting limited observed exploitation activity.

Root Cause

The installer component fails to enforce adequate trust boundaries between the elevated installation context and files or directories writable by standard users. When the installer is invoked against an existing install, attacker-controlled inputs influence privileged operations. This pattern commonly appears in MSI repair flows, custom action handlers, or DLL search paths that resolve to locations a non-admin user can modify.

Attack Vector

An authenticated local user on a system with a vulnerable Telerik Reporting installation stages a modified installer payload or planted artifact in a location consulted by the installer. The user then initiates the installer flow, which executes with elevated privileges and consumes the attacker-controlled artifact. The privileged process performs file operations or code execution under the attacker's control, yielding SYSTEM-level access. No network access, no user interaction, and no administrative credentials are required beyond the initial low-privileged shell.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is available, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Refer to the Telerik Legacy Installer Vulnerability advisory for vendor-supplied technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-0832

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected file writes by non-administrative users into Telerik Reporting installation directories or related %ProgramData% paths.
• Telerik installer processes (msiexec.exe or custom installer executables) spawning child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or unsigned binaries under SYSTEM context.
• New or modified DLLs in directories searched by the Telerik installer that are writable by standard users.

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for installer or repair operations initiated by non-administrative users on hosts running Telerik Reporting.
• Alert on token elevation events where the parent process chain traces back to the Telerik installer component.
• Audit installed product versions to identify hosts still running Telerik Reporting builds prior to 2024 R1.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Windows process creation auditing (Event ID 4688) and forward to a central log platform for correlation.
• Track file integrity on Telerik Reporting installation directories and associated configuration paths.
• Review scheduled tasks, services, and DLL load events for anomalies on hosts where Telerik Reporting is deployed.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-0832

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Progress Telerik Reporting to version 2024 R1 or later on every affected host.
• Inventory all systems with Telerik Reporting installed and prioritize patching on multi-user workstations and shared servers.
• Restrict interactive logon on systems hosting Telerik Reporting to trusted administrative users where feasible.

Patch Information

Progress addressed the issue in Telerik Reporting 2024 R1. Customers should download the updated installer from the vendor and follow the guidance in the Telerik Legacy Installer Vulnerability knowledge base article. Product details are available on the Telerik Reporting product page.

Workarounds

• Remove the legacy installer artifacts from systems where Telerik Reporting is no longer required.
• Tighten NTFS permissions on Telerik Reporting installation directories to deny write access to non-administrative users.
• Block standard users from launching the Telerik Reporting installer via application control policies such as AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control.