CVE-2024-9950: Forescout SecureConnector Auth Bypass

CVE-2024-9950 Overview

CVE-2024-9950 affects Forescout SecureConnector version 11.3.07.0109 on Windows. The vulnerability allows an unauthenticated local user to modify compliance scripts through an insecure temporary directory. SecureConnector is an agent that enforces endpoint compliance policies distributed by the Forescout platform. An attacker with local access can tamper with these scripts before execution, weaponizing a trusted security agent to run attacker-controlled code with elevated privileges. The flaw is tracked under CWE-379: Creation of Temporary File in Directory with Insecure Permissions.

Critical Impact
A local unauthenticated user can modify compliance scripts executed by SecureConnector, leading to privilege escalation and integrity compromise of the endpoint compliance agent.

Affected Products

Forescout SecureConnector v11.3.07.0109
Microsoft Windows (all supported versions running the affected agent)
Endpoints managed through the Forescout platform using SecureConnector

Discovery Timeline

2025-01-02 - CVE-2024-9950 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-9950

Vulnerability Analysis

SecureConnector writes compliance scripts to a temporary directory during policy evaluation. The directory permissions allow any local user to read and modify its contents before the agent consumes the scripts. Because SecureConnector runs with elevated privileges to enforce policy, injected or modified script content executes in that trusted context.

The issue enables integrity and availability impact on the host and downstream systems. An attacker does not need valid credentials on the agent, only local access to the Windows system where SecureConnector is installed. The EPSS probability is 0.308% at the 22.8 percentile as of the latest scoring date.

Root Cause

The root cause is insecure permissions on the temporary directory used to stage compliance scripts. Classified as [CWE-379], the flaw stems from the agent creating or reusing a directory that grants write access to non-privileged users. Any process running as a standard user can replace script contents between the time the agent writes them and the time it executes them.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access to a Windows endpoint running the vulnerable SecureConnector version. The attacker monitors the insecure temporary directory, waits for compliance scripts to be written, and overwrites them with malicious content. When SecureConnector executes the scripts as part of its compliance workflow, the attacker's code runs in the elevated agent context. This pattern is a classic time-of-check to time-of-use race combined with weak filesystem ACLs.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is available. No verified code examples exist for CVE-2024-9950. Refer to the Forescout Support Portal for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-9950

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected file writes or renames in the SecureConnector temporary working directory by non-service accounts.
Compliance script files with modification timestamps that do not match the agent's expected write cadence.
SecureConnector processes spawning unusual child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or wscript.exe outside normal policy execution.
Standard user processes opening handles with write access to files inside the SecureConnector staging directory.

Detection Strategies

Monitor filesystem access to the SecureConnector temporary directory and alert on writes originating from non-SYSTEM or non-agent accounts.
Baseline the parent-child process tree of SecureConnector and flag deviations, especially script interpreter launches with unexpected command lines.
Correlate compliance script hash changes with the agent's policy update events to identify tampering between write and execution.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Windows Sysmon Event IDs 11 (FileCreate) and 2 (FileCreateTime changed) on paths used by SecureConnector.
Forward endpoint telemetry to a centralized data lake to hunt for the tampering pattern across all managed hosts.
Audit ACLs on SecureConnector directories on a recurring schedule and alert when writable-by-Users permissions appear.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-9950

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all Windows endpoints running Forescout SecureConnector v11.3.07.0109 and inventory their patch state.
Apply the fixed version of SecureConnector as published by Forescout through the Forescout Support Portal.
Restrict interactive local logon on endpoints running SecureConnector to reduce the attack surface for local exploitation.
Review the ACLs on the SecureConnector temporary directory and remove write permissions granted to non-privileged users.

Patch Information

Forescout has published guidance and updated builds through its support portal. Administrators must authenticate to the Forescout Support Portal to download the patched SecureConnector release addressing the insecure temporary directory issue. Confirm the agent version on each endpoint after deployment to verify remediation.

Workarounds

Harden filesystem permissions on the SecureConnector staging directory so only SYSTEM and the agent service account retain write access.
Enforce application control policies that block unauthorized modification of files under the SecureConnector installation path.
Limit local user accounts on managed Windows endpoints and enforce least privilege until the patched agent is deployed.

bash

# Configuration example - audit ACLs on the SecureConnector staging directory
icacls "C:\Path\To\SecureConnector\Temp"
# Remove write access for the built-in Users group if present
icacls "C:\Path\To\SecureConnector\Temp" /remove:g "BUILTIN\Users"