CVE-2024-9524: Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in Avira Prime Speedup Service

Overview

The vulnerability under discussion, CVE-2024-9524, presents a significant threat to users of Avira Prime version 1.1.96.2 on Windows 10 x64. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code within the context of the SYSTEM, posing a serious risk to system security. The impact is significant because it compromises the integrity of the system and potentially exposes sensitive data to malevolent actors. Cybersecurity professionals, network administrators, and individual users should be aware of this vulnerability and take the necessary steps to secure their systems.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-9524
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Avira Prime | Version 1.1.96.2 on Windows 10 x64

How the Exploit Works

The exploit takes advantage of a Time-of-check to Time-of-use (TOCTTOU) condition in Avira Prime’s Speedup Service. In essence, it manipulates the time gap between the check (when the system verifies the file’s properties) and the use (when the file is executed or written). An attacker can exploit this gap to create a symbolic link to a privileged file or directory.
When the Speedup Service attempts to perform operations on the originally intended file, it inadvertently performs them on the linked file instead, thus potentially granting elevated privileges or executing arbitrary code. The exploit requires local access to the system and user interaction, making social engineering or another form of initial compromise a likely vector for the attack.

Conceptual Example Code

The example below illustrates a conceptual command-line sequence an attacker might use to exploit this vulnerability:

# Attacker gains low-level access to the system
$ whoami
low-privilege-user
# Attacker creates symbolic link to a system file
$ ln -s /path/to/system/file /path/to/SpeedupService/file
# Attacker manipulates the SpeedupService to perform operations on the link
$ ./malicious_operation
# If successful, the attacker now has escalated privileges
$ whoami
SYSTEM

This is a simplified representation of an attack scenario. Actual exploitation would likely involve more complex steps and sophisticated techniques.