Microsoft recently disclosed a critical vulnerability in its Windows Remote Desktop Services, identified as CVE-2024-49115. This security flaw poses a severe risk to users of multiple versions of Windows Server, including 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute remote code on affected systems, potentially giving them full control. With a CVSS score of 8.1, it has been classified as a serious threat to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems. The vulnerability stems from two primary weaknesses: CWE-591, which involves the improper storage of sensitive data, and CWE-416, a use-after-free condition.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can occur when an attacker connects to a system with the Remote Desktop Gateway role, triggering a race condition that results in a use-after-free scenario. This enables the execution of arbitrary code on the affected machine, providing attackers with full control. Importantly, the exploit does not require user interaction or elevated privileges, but its high complexity means it is unlikely to be exploited without advanced technical knowledge. This makes the vulnerability a serious concern, particularly for organizations that rely heavily on Remote Desktop Services for remote access.
Although Microsoft has not yet seen active exploitation of CVE-2024-49115, the potential for abuse remains significant. The company has released security patches for all impacted versions of Windows Server as part of its December 2024 Patch Tuesday updates. These patches address the flaw and prevent possible remote code execution. However, administrators are urged to apply the updates promptly to mitigate risks, as this vulnerability remains a critical threat to systems exposed to Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).
In light of this vulnerability, Microsoft also advised organizations to follow best practices for securing RDP access, such as limiting RDP to trusted networks, enabling Network Level Authentication (NLA), and monitoring for suspicious activity. The disclosure of this flaw adds to the list of critical vulnerabilities addressed by Microsoft this month, including another actively exploited zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2024-49138). CVE-2024-49115 underscores the ongoing security risks associated with remote access technologies and highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches to protect systems from potential attacks.
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