CVE-2024-38175: Azure Cassandra Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2024-38175 Overview

CVE-2024-38175 is an improper access control vulnerability [CWE-284] in Microsoft Azure Managed Instance for Apache Cassandra. An authenticated attacker can exploit this weakness over the network to elevate privileges within the managed service. Microsoft published the advisory on August 20, 2024 through the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC).

The flaw affects a cloud-hosted database service used to run Apache Cassandra workloads on Azure. Successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected instance.

Critical Impact
An authenticated network-based attacker can escalate privileges in Azure Managed Instance for Apache Cassandra, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data and administrative functions within the service.

Affected Products

Microsoft Azure Managed Instance for Apache Cassandra

Discovery Timeline

2024-08-20 - CVE-2024-38175 published to NVD and Microsoft advisory released
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-38175

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the access control logic of Azure Managed Instance for Apache Cassandra. The service failed to properly enforce authorization boundaries between authenticated users, allowing a low-privileged account to gain elevated rights. Microsoft classifies the issue under the improper access control weakness category [CWE-284].

Because the affected component is a fully managed Azure service, Microsoft applied the fix on the service side. Customers are not required to install patches on their tenants, but any workloads dependent on the previously flawed authorization model should be reviewed.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient authorization checks within the managed service control plane or data plane operations. Access decisions did not correctly validate the caller's assigned role before permitting privileged actions. This design flaw enabled an authenticated principal to perform operations reserved for higher-privileged roles.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires an attacker to hold valid credentials for the target Azure Managed Instance for Apache Cassandra environment. The attacker then issues crafted requests over the network to invoke operations that should be restricted. No user interaction is required, and attack complexity is low. Because Microsoft has not published exploitation details or proof-of-concept code, the specific request patterns remain undisclosed.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-38175

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected role or permission changes on Cassandra cluster resources within Azure subscriptions.
Administrative or schema-modification operations originating from accounts that were not previously assigned elevated Cassandra roles.
Anomalous API calls to Azure Managed Instance for Apache Cassandra endpoints from low-privileged service principals or users.

Detection Strategies

Review Azure Activity Logs and Cassandra audit logs for privilege escalation events, focusing on GRANT, ALTER ROLE, and CREATE ROLE statements.
Correlate authentication events with subsequent administrative actions to identify accounts performing operations outside their historical baseline.
Ingest Azure diagnostic logs into a centralized analytics platform and apply behavioral analytics to flag anomalous role or permission usage.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable diagnostic logging for all Azure Managed Instance for Apache Cassandra deployments and forward logs to a security data lake.
Monitor Entra ID sign-in and service principal activity for accounts that access Cassandra management endpoints.
Establish alerts on changes to Azure role assignments scoped to Cassandra resources, particularly outside change windows.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-38175

Immediate Actions Required

Confirm through the Microsoft advisory that the Azure-managed fix has been applied to your region and subscription.
Audit all identities with access to Azure Managed Instance for Apache Cassandra and remove unused or over-privileged accounts.
Rotate credentials and access tokens for any principals suspected of misuse during the exposure window.
Review Cassandra role definitions and enforce least privilege for application and administrative accounts.

Patch Information

Microsoft addressed CVE-2024-38175 as a service-side fix within Azure Managed Instance for Apache Cassandra. No customer-installable patch is required. Refer to the Microsoft CVE-2024-38175 Advisory for authoritative remediation guidance and service status.

Workarounds

Restrict network access to Cassandra management endpoints using Azure private endpoints and network security groups.
Enforce multi-factor authentication and conditional access policies on all identities with rights to the Cassandra service.
Apply just-in-time privileged access through Entra ID Privileged Identity Management for administrative Cassandra roles.

bash

# Example: list role assignments scoped to a Cassandra managed instance resource
az role assignment list \
  --scope "/subscriptions/<subId>/resourceGroups/<rg>/providers/Microsoft.DocumentDB/cassandraClusters/<clusterName>" \
  --output table

# Example: remove an over-privileged assignment
az role assignment delete \
  --assignee <principalId> \
  --role "Contributor" \
  --scope "/subscriptions/<subId>/resourceGroups/<rg>/providers/Microsoft.DocumentDB/cassandraClusters/<clusterName>"