Synaptics Audio Driver: Improper Access Control
CVE-2024-9157 is a high-severity improper access control vulnerability in Synaptics Audio Driver from Synaptics, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 9.0.282.*, 9.0.285.*, 9.0.278.* as the first without the flaw, so updating Synaptics Audio Driver to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.35% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Synaptics Audio Driver to 9.0.282.* or 9.0.285.* or 9.0.278.*, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synaptics | Synaptics Audio Driver | before 9.0.282.*; before 9.0.285.*; before 9.0.278.* | 9.0.282.*, 9.0.285.*, 9.0.278.* |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (synaptics.com).
Official description
** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** A privilege escalation vulnerability in CxUIUSvc64.exe and CxUIUSvc32.exe of Synaptics audio drivers allows a local authorized attacker to load a DLL in a privileged process. Out of an abundance of caution, this CVE ID is being assigned to better serve our customers and ensure all who are still running this product understand that the product is End-of-Life and should be removed. For more information on this, refer to the CVE Record’s reference information.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Access Control
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Recent Improper Access Control vulnerabilities
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.0 High severity
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