CVE-2024-49103: Windows 10 Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2024-49103 Overview

CVE-2024-49103 is an information disclosure vulnerability in the Windows Wireless Wide Area Network Service (WwanSvc). This service manages connections to mobile broadband networks and is present across multiple versions of Windows desktop and server operating systems. The vulnerability allows an attacker with physical access and low-level privileges to read sensitive information from memory that should otherwise be protected.

Critical Impact

Physical access exploitation could lead to disclosure of highly confidential data from affected Windows systems running mobile broadband services.

Affected Products

• Microsoft Windows 10 1809 (x64 and x86)
• Microsoft Windows 10 21H2
• Microsoft Windows 10 22H2
• Microsoft Windows 11 22H2
• Microsoft Windows 11 23H2
• Microsoft Windows 11 24H2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2019
• Microsoft Windows Server 2022 23H2
• Microsoft Windows Server 2025

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-12-12 - CVE-2024-49103 published to NVD
• 2025-01-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-49103

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-Bounds Read), indicating a memory safety issue within the Windows Wireless Wide Area Network Service. The WwanSvc component is responsible for managing cellular and mobile broadband connectivity on Windows systems. Due to improper bounds checking when processing certain data, an attacker can trigger a condition where the service reads beyond the intended memory buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory regions.

The physical access requirement means an attacker would need direct access to the target machine. However, once physical access is obtained, the exploitation requires only low privileges, making it accessible to authenticated users without administrative rights. The vulnerability does not impact system integrity or availability—only confidentiality is at risk.

Root Cause

The root cause stems from an out-of-bounds read condition in the WwanSvc service. When processing specific inputs related to wireless wide area network operations, the service fails to properly validate buffer boundaries before reading data. This allows memory contents beyond the allocated buffer to be read, potentially disclosing sensitive information such as authentication tokens, network credentials, or other confidential data residing in memory.

Attack Vector

The attack requires physical access to a vulnerable Windows system. An attacker with a local, low-privileged account can interact with the WwanSvc service in a manner that triggers the out-of-bounds read condition. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker's own actions, and the attack scope is limited to the vulnerable component itself without affecting other system resources.

The vulnerability manifests when the WwanSvc service processes malformed or specially crafted requests that bypass proper memory bounds validation. Due to the physical access requirement, this vulnerability is most relevant in scenarios involving stolen or unattended devices, insider threats, or shared computing environments. For detailed technical information, refer to the Microsoft Security Update Guide.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-49103

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual activity or errors logged by the WwanSvc service in Windows Event Logs
• Unexpected memory access patterns or crash dumps associated with WwanSvc.dll
• Evidence of physical access tampering or unauthorized local login attempts
• Anomalous read operations on mobile broadband service-related processes

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Windows Event Logs for WwanSvc service errors or unexpected restarts
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions capable of identifying memory access anomalies
• Implement physical security monitoring to detect unauthorized device access
• Use SentinelOne Singularity to detect exploitation attempts targeting Windows system services

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the WwanSvc service and related system components
• Configure alerts for abnormal patterns in local authentication events
• Implement host-based intrusion detection to monitor service-level memory operations
• Review security logs regularly for signs of insider threat activity or physical breach attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-49103

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the latest Windows security updates from Microsoft's December 2024 Patch Tuesday release
• Restrict physical access to systems running affected Windows versions
• Audit local user accounts and minimize low-privilege account exposure on sensitive systems
• Consider disabling the WwanSvc service on systems that do not require mobile broadband connectivity

Patch Information

Microsoft has released security patches addressing CVE-2024-49103 as part of their regular update cycle. Administrators should apply the appropriate cumulative update for their Windows version through Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), or Microsoft Update Catalog. Detailed patch information and download links are available in the Microsoft Security Update Guide for CVE-2024-49103.

Workarounds

• Disable the WwanSvc service on systems that do not require wireless wide area network functionality
• Implement strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized device access
• Use BitLocker or similar full-disk encryption to protect data at rest from physical attacks
• Restrict local logon rights to minimize the number of users who can authenticate locally

# Disable WwanSvc service as a temporary workaround (if mobile broadband is not needed)
sc config WwanSvc start= disabled
sc stop WwanSvc