SmartScreen prompt bypass in Microsoft Windows

1) Protection mechanism failure

EUVDB-ID: #VU88316

Risk: High

CVSSv4.0: 7.3 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:A/U:Amber]

CVE-ID: CVE-2024-29988

CWE-ID: CWE-693 - Protection Mechanism Failure

Exploit availability: Yes

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to compromise the affected system.

The vulnerability exists due to insufficient implementation of the Mark of the Web (MotW) feature. A remote attacker can supply a malicious file inside an archive to bypass EDR/NDR detection, bypass the SmartScreen prompt and compromise the affected system.

Note, the vulnerability is being actively exploited in the wild.

Mitigation

Install updates from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Windows: 10 Gold - 11

Windows Server: 2019 10.0.17763.1 - 2022 23H2

CPE2.3

• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10:Gold:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10:S:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10:Mobile:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_20H2:10.0.19042.572:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_21H1:10.0.19043.985:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_21H2:10.0.19044.1288:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_22H2:10.0.19045.2130:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_1507:10.0.10240.16405:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_1511:10.0.10586.3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:10_1607:10.0.14393.10:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server:2019_2004:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

External links

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-29988
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/blog/2024/4/9/the-april-2024-security-updates-review
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-24-361/

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote authenticated user via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

Yes. This vulnerability is being exploited in the wild.