CVE-2024-43591 Overview
CVE-2024-43591 is an Elevation of Privilege vulnerability affecting Microsoft Azure Command Line Integration (CLI) and Azure Service Connector. This command injection flaw (CWE-77) allows an authenticated attacker with high privileges to escape the intended command execution context and potentially gain elevated access across Azure tenant boundaries due to the scope change characteristic of this vulnerability.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows attackers with high-level access to achieve command injection, potentially compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability across Azure resources beyond the initially targeted scope.
Affected Products
- Microsoft Azure Command-line Interface
- Microsoft Azure Service Connector
Discovery Timeline
- October 8, 2024 - CVE-2024-43591 published to NVD
- July 2, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-43591
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability stems from improper command neutralization within the Azure CLI and Azure Service Connector components. The flaw allows an authenticated attacker with high privileges to inject arbitrary commands that are then executed by the system with elevated permissions.
The scope change characteristic of this vulnerability is particularly concerning, as it indicates that successful exploitation can impact resources beyond the vulnerable component's security authority. In the context of Azure services, this could mean an attacker could potentially affect resources across different Azure subscriptions or tenants.
While high privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability (reducing the immediate attack surface), the potential for cross-boundary impact makes this a significant risk for organizations with multi-tenant Azure deployments or shared administrative environments.
Root Cause
The root cause is classified as Command Injection (CWE-77), which occurs when an application constructs all or part of a command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but fails to properly neutralize special elements that could modify the intended command when sent to a downstream component. In this case, the Azure CLI and Service Connector components fail to adequately sanitize inputs that are incorporated into system command execution.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without requiring physical access to the target system. The attack complexity is low, indicating that once an attacker has the requisite high-level privileges, exploitation is straightforward and does not require specialized conditions or significant preparation.
An attacker would need valid credentials with high-level administrative access to the Azure environment. From there, they could craft malicious input containing command injection payloads that bypass the intended command execution boundaries, potentially achieving code execution with elevated privileges across scope boundaries.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-43591
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual Azure CLI command patterns containing shell metacharacters or escape sequences in administrative sessions
- Unexpected process spawning from Azure CLI or Service Connector processes
- Anomalous cross-tenant or cross-subscription access attempts following Azure CLI usage
- Audit logs showing privilege escalation events correlated with CLI operations
Detection Strategies
- Monitor Azure Activity Logs and Azure AD Sign-in Logs for suspicious administrative activities
- Implement alerting on Azure CLI execution patterns that deviate from established baselines
- Deploy endpoint detection capabilities to identify command injection attempts in Azure management processes
- Review Azure Resource Manager audit logs for unauthorized resource access across scopes
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable enhanced logging for Azure CLI operations across all administrative workstations
- Configure Azure Security Center alerts for privilege escalation indicators
- Implement continuous monitoring of Azure administrative sessions for anomalous command patterns
- Establish baseline behaviors for legitimate Azure CLI usage to identify deviations
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-43591
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft for Azure CLI and Azure Service Connector immediately
- Review and audit accounts with high-level Azure administrative privileges
- Implement additional monitoring for Azure CLI usage until patching is complete
- Consider restricting Azure CLI access to essential personnel during the remediation period
Patch Information
Microsoft has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Refer to the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory for detailed patching instructions and specific version information. Organizations should update to the latest versions of Azure CLI and Azure Service Connector as soon as possible.
Workarounds
- Limit Azure CLI and Service Connector usage to trusted, hardened administrative workstations
- Implement network segmentation to restrict administrative access to Azure management interfaces
- Apply the principle of least privilege to reduce the number of accounts with high-level Azure permissions
- Monitor administrative sessions closely and implement session recording for audit purposes
# Verify Azure CLI version and update to latest
az --version
az upgrade
# Review current Azure account permissions
az account list --output table
az role assignment list --all --output table
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
