CVE-2024-21962 Overview
CVE-2024-21962 is an improper input validation vulnerability in the AMD RAID driver. The flaw allows a local attacker with low privileges to point the driver to an arbitrary memory location. Successful exploitation can result in privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution in kernel context.
The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-1220] (Insufficient Granularity of Access Control) and was disclosed in AMD Security Bulletin AMD-SB-4016. Exploitation requires local access and limited user interaction, but yields high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability across the affected system.
Critical Impact
A local authenticated attacker can manipulate driver input to access arbitrary kernel memory, gain SYSTEM-level privileges, and execute code with full kernel privileges.
Affected Products
- AMD RAID driver (see AMD-SB-4016 for affected versions)
- Systems using AMD RAIDXpert2 management software with the vulnerable driver
- Windows hosts running AMD RAID storage controllers
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-15 - CVE-2024-21962 published to NVD
- 2026-05-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-21962
Vulnerability Analysis
The AMD RAID driver fails to properly validate input parameters supplied through its kernel interface. A local attacker with low privileges can craft an input that causes the driver to dereference an attacker-controlled memory address. Because the driver executes in kernel context, an arbitrary pointer dereference can be leveraged to read, write, or execute code at kernel privilege.
Drivers exposing IOCTL or device interfaces to user-mode callers must validate every pointer, length, and offset received from untrusted callers. The absence of such checks in the AMD RAID driver creates a path from a standard user account to ring 0 code execution. The Common Weakness Enumeration mapping [CWE-1220] reflects insufficient granularity of access control in the driver's input handling.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient validation of pointer values passed from user mode into the AMD RAID driver. When the driver consumes an attacker-supplied pointer without bounds or origin checks, it can be redirected to arbitrary kernel or user memory. AMD's bulletin describes the issue as improper input validation leading to arbitrary memory access.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is local and requires an authenticated user on the target system. The attacker opens a handle to the AMD RAID driver device and submits a crafted request containing an arbitrary memory pointer. The driver consumes the pointer without validation, granting the attacker primitives to corrupt kernel structures, elevate to SYSTEM, or load unsigned code. User interaction is a required factor in the CVSS vector, indicating the attack chain depends on a user-triggered operation.
No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. Refer to the AMD Security Bulletin AMD-SB-4016 for vendor-supplied technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-21962
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected loading or interaction with the AMD RAID driver device by non-administrative processes
- New kernel-mode threads or modules spawned shortly after RAID driver IOCTL activity
- Privilege transitions from standard user accounts to SYSTEM without a corresponding service or scheduled task event
- Crash dumps or bug checks (BSOD) referencing the AMD RAID driver image
Detection Strategies
- Inventory endpoints running AMD RAID drivers and compare installed driver versions against the fixed versions listed in AMD-SB-4016
- Monitor handle opens to the AMD RAID device object by unsigned or unexpected user-mode processes
- Correlate token elevation events (SeDebugPrivilege, SYSTEM impersonation) with prior driver IOCTL activity
- Hunt for sequences where a low-privilege process interacts with the RAID driver and then spawns child processes under SYSTEM
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable kernel driver load auditing and forward events to a centralized SIEM for correlation
- Track Windows Event ID 7045 and Sysmon Event ID 6 for driver loads tied to AMD storage components
- Alert on process creation chains where a user-context process is followed by SYSTEM-level activity within a short window
- Capture and review crash telemetry referencing the RAID driver module name
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-21962
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the updated AMD RAID driver supplied in AMD-SB-4016 to every affected endpoint and server
- Restrict local logon rights and remove unnecessary local user accounts on systems with AMD RAID controllers
- Audit installed driver versions across the fleet and prioritize remediation on multi-user systems
- Enforce application allowlisting to block unsigned binaries that attempt to interact with the RAID driver
Patch Information
AMD published fixed driver versions in AMD Security Bulletin AMD-SB-4016. Administrators should download the updated AMD RAID driver package from AMD or the system OEM and deploy it through standard patch management workflows. Reboot the system after installation to ensure the new driver is loaded.
Workarounds
- Remove the AMD RAID driver on systems that do not require RAID functionality
- Limit interactive logon to trusted administrative users where the patch cannot be applied immediately
- Apply Windows Defender Application Control or AppLocker policies to prevent execution of untrusted binaries that could invoke the driver
# Verify the installed AMD RAID driver version on Windows (PowerShell)
Get-WmiObject Win32_PnPSignedDriver |
Where-Object { $_.DeviceName -like "*AMD*RAID*" } |
Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion, DriverProviderName
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
