CVE-2024-38107

From Exploited flaws, HARD’s guide to the flaws being used in attacks · Checked
This article is about a flaw in Microsoft Windows. For every flaw being used in attacks, see Exploited flaws; for Microsoft’s, see Microsoft flaws being used in attacks.

CVE-2024-38107 is a security flaw in Microsoft Windows, Microsoft’s operating system for PCs and servers. Someone who already has a foothold can use Microsoft Windows to take full control of the machine. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 13 Aug 2024.[1]

Microsoft Windows is in things households have, such as phones, computers, browsers and everyday apps, so the fix matters at home as much as at work. Fixed in version 10.0.17763.6189, 10.0.20348.2655, 10.0.22000.3147 and 10.0.19044.4780 and others.

Description

CISA calls it a power dependency coordinator privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows. In its words: “Microsoft Windows Power Dependency Coordinator contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation, enabling a local attacker to obtain SYSTEM privileges.”[1]

The underlying weakness is use after free (CWE-416), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]

It scores 7.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by the organisation that published the CVE using CVSS 3.1.[2]

Affected versions

NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]

ProductFixed in
Windows 10 Version 180910.0.17763.6189
Windows Server 201910.0.17763.6189
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)10.0.17763.6189
Windows Server 202210.0.20348.2655
Windows 11 version 21H210.0.22000.3147
Windows 10 Version 21H210.0.19044.4780
Windows 11 version 22H210.0.22621.4037
Windows 10 Version 22H210.0.19045.4780

Every device with Microsoft Windows needs the update.

Exploitation

CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 13 Aug 2024, within a day of it being made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 3 Sep 2024 to fix it.[1]

FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 2%. That’s in the top 24% of the flaws it scores.[4]

CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.

CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.

Fix

Microsoft has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]

  1. Update Microsoft Windows now.On Windows: Settings, Windows Update, Check for updates, then restart. Office updates come the same way, or from any Office app: File, Account, Update Options. Then turn on automatic updates, so the next fix arrives on its own.
  2. Check you’re on 10.0.17763.6189 or later.Fixed in version 10.0.17763.6189, 10.0.20348.2655, 10.0.22000.3147 and 10.0.19044.4780 and others. Anything older is what attackers are going after.
  3. If there’s no update, stop using it.CISA’s advice when a flaw being used in attacks has no fix is to stop using the product until it does.

Timeline

DateEvent
The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.8.[2]
CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1]
CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1]
FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 2%.[4]

See also

Other Microsoft Windows flaws

Other use after free flaws

Added the same day

  • CVE-2024-38213, Microsoft Windows: smartScreen security feature bypass ·
  • CVE-2024-38193, Microsoft Windows: ancillary function driver for winSock privilege escalation ·
  • CVE-2024-38189, Microsoft Project: remote code execution ·
  • CVE-2024-38178, Microsoft Windows: scripting engine memory corruption ·
  • CVE-2024-38106, Microsoft Windows: kernel privilege escalation ·

Every Microsoft flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in August 2024

References

  1. ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Microsoft Windows Power Dependency Coordinator Privilege Escalation Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 13 Aug 2024.
  2. ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2024-38107 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 13 Aug 2024.
  3. ^ Microsoft. Advisories and fixes: msrc.microsoft.com.
  4. ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.016, percentile 76.3, 31 Oct 2026.
  5. CVE Program. “CVE-2024-38107”. The official CVE record.

This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.