CVE-2024-9157 is a high-severity privilege escalation vulnerability affecting the Synaptics audio drivers, specifically within the processes CxUIUSvc64.exe and CxUIUSvc32.exe. This vulnerability allows a local authorized attacker to load a DLL in a privileged process, which can lead to unauthorized access and control over the system.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.8, indicating a high level of severity. Organizations should understand that this vulnerability poses a significant risk to their systems, especially considering that the affected product is officially End-of-Life and should be removed from their environments.
Currently, there is no known public exploit for this vulnerability, and it is categorized as awaiting further analysis. However, the potential for exploitation remains high due to the nature of the vulnerability.
Organizations using these audio drivers should prioritize the removal of the affected software to mitigate risks. The urgency to address this vulnerability is critical as it can lead to severe security breaches.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability allows a local authorized attacker to load a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) into a privileged process. This exploit can potentially compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which relates to improper access control.
The vulnerability has a CVSS vector of CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating low attack complexity and low privileges required for exploitation. The impacts are significant, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the design of the Synaptics audio drivers, which allows unauthorized DLL loading within privileged processes. Attackers may leverage this flaw to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code.
The attack vector is local, meaning that an attacker must have local access to the system to exploit this vulnerability. The attack complexity is low, and no user interaction is required. Therefore, the potential for exploitation is significant, particularly in environments where the audio drivers are still in use.
Given the characteristics of this vulnerability, organizations should consider the implications of having these drivers installed on their systems, especially if they are still operational.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes substantial potential for unauthorized access and control over sensitive systems. The vulnerability's existence in a widely used audio driver increases the risk of exploitation, particularly in environments where security measures may be insufficient.
The urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability is high. Given the CVSS score of 7.8, immediate action is recommended to remove or mitigate the risk associated with the affected drivers. The blast radius could extend to any local user with access to the system, amplifying the potential damage.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions prior to vendor patch are affected. Organizations should remove the Synaptics audio drivers from their systems as they are now End-of-Life.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize the removal of the affected Synaptics audio drivers from their systems to mitigate risks associated with CVE-2024-9157. As the product is End-of-Life, there will be no further patches or updates available. For further security assessments, organizations may consider engaging in penetration testing to evaluate their security posture.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor for any unauthorized changes to the CxUIUSvc64.exe and CxUIUSvc32.exe processes. Log indicators of DLL loading attempts and observe for behavioral anomalies that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-9157 lies in its representation of the risks associated with using End-of-Life software. Organizations must recognize that vulnerabilities in unsupported products can expose them to serious security breaches.
This vulnerability serves as a reminder for security teams to regularly review and update their software inventory, ensuring that any End-of-Life products are promptly removed. For comprehensive security management, organizations should invest in a vulnerability management program to proactively address similar issues in the future.
Furthermore, organizations should consider adopting strategies for continuous security testing and engage in regular assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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