CVE-2024-38217: Windows 10 1507 Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-38217 Overview

Windows Mark of the Web Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

Critical Impact
This vulnerability can be exploited to bypass security features, potentially leading to unauthorized modifications.

Affected Products

Microsoft Windows 10 1507
Microsoft Windows 10 1607
Microsoft Windows 10 1809

Discovery Timeline

Not Available - Vulnerability discovered by Not Available
Not Available - Responsible disclosure to Microsoft
Not Available - CVE CVE-2024-38217 assigned
Not Available - Microsoft releases security patch
2024-09-10 - CVE CVE-2024-38217 published to NVD
2025-10-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-38217

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability involves the Mark of the Web (MotW) security feature in Windows, which fails to properly handle certain scenarios. An attacker could craft a document that bypasses this security feature, leading to potential unauthorized actions on the target system.

Root Cause

The root cause is a flaw in how Windows processes Mark of the Web when handling downloaded files, leading to an incorrect security context.

Attack Vector

Network-based attack where an attacker can manipulate downloaded files to ensure they are not flagged by MotW.

powershell

# Example exploitation code (sanitized)
$FilePath = "C:\Users\User\Downloads\vulnerable.docx"
if (Test-Path $FilePath) {
    Remove-Item $FilePath
} else {
    New-Item -Path $FilePath -ItemType File
}
# Exploit involves bypassing the security checks

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-38217

Indicators of Compromise

Anomalous file executions from typical user directories
Files lacking expected security markers (e.g., MotW)
New or modified system files in user directories

Detection Strategies

Utilize file integrity monitoring and check for discrepancies in file signatures, particularly around files downloaded from untrusted sources.

Monitoring Recommendations

Implement endpoint detection and response tools to monitor for changes in security settings and unusual file executions, ensuring that any deviations are promptly investigated.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-38217

Immediate Actions Required

Review and restrict file execution policies.
Implement stricter download scanning mechanisms.
Educate users on recognizing and avoiding malicious emails and downloads.

Patch Information

Refer to the vendor advisory for patch deployment: Microsoft Security Advisory.

Workarounds

As a temporary measure, increase monitoring on executable content within user directories and employ application whitelisting to restrict unverified software execution.

bash

# Configuration example
Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass
Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Users\*\Downloads" -Recurse | ForEach-Object {
    Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath $_.FullName
}