CVE-2024-38217 Microsoft Windows: security feature bypass
In plain words: A built-in safety check — like a warning before opening a downloaded file — can be skipped. Makes other attacks, like malicious downloads, work without the usual warning.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Oct 1, 2024
What to do
- Install Microsoft's security update for Windows. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Turn on automatic updates for the operating system and for Office, PDF and archive apps.
- Be careful with unexpected attachments — documents, .zip/.rar files and shortcuts are common bait.
- Use a normal (non-admin) account day to day and keep built-in protection like Microsoft Defender on.
Who is affected
Could reach you. This one is aimed at devices or apps of the kind people own.
What's at risk: Your files, saved passwords and accounts. Many of these let a program that is already running gain full administrator control.
The details
- Official name
- Microsoft Windows Mark of the Web (MOTW) Protection Mechanism Failure Vulnerability
- Product
- Microsoft Windows
- CISA description
- Microsoft Windows Mark of the Web (MOTW) contains a protection mechanism failure vulnerability that allows an attacker to bypass MOTW-based defenses. This can result in a limited loss of integrity and availability of security features such as Protected View in Microsoft Office, which rely on MOTW tagging.
- Type of flaw
- Security feature bypass (CWE-693)
- Confirmed exploited
- Sep 10, 2024
- US federal patch deadline
- Oct 1, 2024
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Answering about CVE-2024-38217 ·
Questions about CVE-2024-38217
Is CVE-2024-38217 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2024-38217 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Sep 10, 2024, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2024-38217?
Install Microsoft's security update for Windows. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Turn on automatic updates for the operating system and for Office, PDF and archive apps.
Am I affected by CVE-2024-38217?
Only if you use Microsoft Windows. This one is aimed at devices or apps of the kind people own.