Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2024-38193 is a Windows privilege-escalation flaw in the Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock. An attacker who already has low-level local access could gain SYSTEM-level control. CISA lists it as known exploited, so remediation should be treated as urgent.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority because exploitation is confirmed by CISA and successful use can give attackers full system control. Patch Windows endpoints and servers quickly, especially systems used by administrators, shared users, or remote access workflows.
Technical view
Microsoft describes this as a CWE-416 use-after-free vulnerability in afd.sys, the Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is primarily Windows endpoints and servers running affected Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2008, 2016, 2019, and 2022 versions listed by Microsoft. The attacker needs local low-privileged access first, so risk rises on shared systems, workstations, RDP hosts, and post-compromise environments.
Exploitation context
Active exploitation is supported by the CISA KEV listing. The bundle also cites an Exploit-DB entry, indicating public exploit information exists, but this assessment does not validate or describe exploit details. This is more likely used after initial access than as a first-stage remote compromise.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports local privilege escalation, not unauthenticated remote exploitation. The affected component is Windows AFD for WinSock, and the weakness is use-after-free. Avoid assuming exploitation scope beyond KEV confirmation and the public references listed.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Microsoft security updates for all affected Windows builds.
- Prioritize remediation under CISA KEV-driven patch timelines.
- Check MSRC for exact updates matching each Windows version.
- Restrict local interactive access on systems pending remediation.
- Reduce exposure of systems that cannot be promptly updated.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Windows versions against Microsoft’s affected product list.
- Verify the relevant Microsoft security update is installed.
- Confirm scanners no longer report CVE-2024-38193 as missing.
- Review endpoint telemetry for suspicious local privilege-escalation activity.
- Track exceptions for systems that cannot be patched immediately.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupPrivilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-38193 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CISA KEV status
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityCVE reference · vendor-advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-38193CVE reference · government-resource
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/52284CVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.