External risk intelligence

Windows Remote Access Connection Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8)

CVE-2024-38240

This vulnerability affects the Windows Remote Access Connection Manager, which is a local service component. It is not an internet-facing service or edge gateway by design. Exploitation generally requires local access to the operating system rather than reaching an external network listener, making public internet exposure and reachability in common deployments very unlikely.

Out-of-bounds Read

Microsoft Windows 10 1507

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Halo Surface Signal: 1 out of 5 — much less likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

This vulnerability impacts Windows systems, specifically related to remote access management, and allows for elevation of privileges. While it has a critical severity score, its exploitation typically requires local system access rather than external network access. The primary concern is confirming its relevance and exposure within our specific environments.

An issue with Windows remote access management.
Critical severity, but local access likely needed.
Confirm relevance and exposure for affected systems.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted network requests to the Windows Remote Access Connection Manager. This could lead to an elevation of privilege, allowing the attacker to gain administrative control over the affected system.

Requires network access.
Triggers via crafted network requests.
Allows full system control.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to elevate their privileges on a Windows system, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information and system control. The Remote Access Connection Manager is a local service component, and exploitation typically requires some level of local access.

System data and sensitive information.
Via local access or system compromise.
Unauthorized system control and access.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability impacts Microsoft Windows systems, likely managed by infrastructure or platform teams. The critical first step is to identify all instances of the affected Windows versions, determine their business criticality and network exposure, and then confirm the accountable owner for each system before planning remediation.

Infrastructure and platform teams own remediation.
Verify system criticality and exposure first.
Plan remediation based on identified risk.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Windows Remote Access Connection Manager?

The Remote Access Connection Manager is a Windows service component responsible for managing dial-up and virtual private network (VPN) connections. It handles the details of these network connections, allowing users to connect to remote networks or enterprise resources reliably. It is a core part of the operating system's networking stack across many versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.

What does CWE-125 mean for CVE-2024-38240?

CWE-125 is the weakness class 'Out-of-bounds Read.' In the context of this vulnerability, it means the software component may attempt to read data past the end of an intended buffer. If an attacker triggers this condition through a specially crafted request, it can be a stepping stone to elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to gain control over the affected system.

How is the Windows Remote Access Connection Manager triggered?

An attacker triggers this flaw by sending specially crafted network requests to the service. While the vulnerability allows for elevation of privilege, it is important to note that the Remote Access Connection Manager is fundamentally a local service. Simply having a network path to a system does not automatically make it susceptible, as exploitation typically requires additional local access or specific interaction with the service.

Is my system at risk according to Halo Surface Signal?

Halo Surface Signal indicates that exploitation of CVE-2024-38240 is very unlikely to occur over the public internet. Because the Remote Access Connection Manager is not designed as an internet-facing service or an edge gateway, it is not typically reachable from the outside. The risk is significantly higher for internal systems where an attacker might already have some level of local foothold.

What should I do if I manage systems affected by CVE-2024-38240?

Your first step is to inventory your environment to identify systems running the affected Windows versions. Once identified, prioritize these assets based on their business criticality and current role. Coordinate with your infrastructure or platform teams to confirm ownership and plan for the necessary security updates provided by the vendor to address this privilege elevation concern.

References

msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-38240

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.