August has seen some of the most eye-opening vulnerabilities surface, catching the attention of security experts across the globe. These aren’t just numbers in a database, they represent real challenges that need swift attention. In this post, we’ll break down the top CVEs of August 2024, giving you a clear understanding of why they stand out and what they mean for cybersecurity. Explore the threats that are making headlines and understand the impact they could have on your organization.

1. CVE-2024-38189 – Critical Remote Code Execution in Microsoft Project

The CVE-2024-38189 vulnerability is a critical remote code execution vulnerability that affects Microsoft Project. It allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system by tricking a user into opening a specially crafted Microsoft Project file.

Details of the Vulnerability

• Severity: Critical
• CVSS Score: 8.8 (CVSS v3.1)
• Impact: Remote code execution
• Affected Products: Microsoft Project
• Vulnerability Type: Remote code execution
• Exploitability: Easily exploitable
• Authentication: Not required

Exploitation

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted Microsoft Project file to a target user. If the user opens the file, the attacker can execute arbitrary code on the user’s system. This could allow the attacker to gain control of the system, steal data, or install malware.

Mitigation

Microsoft has released a security update to address this vulnerability. Users should install the update as soon as possible to protect their systems.

Impact

The CVE-2024-38189 vulnerability is a serious threat that could allow attackers to gain control of vulnerable systems. Users should take steps to mitigate the vulnerability as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

• Microsoft Security Advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-38189
• NVD Entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38189

2. CVE-2024-38178 –  Remote Code Execution Flaw in Microsoft Exchange

The CVE-2024-38178 vulnerability is a remote code execution vulnerability that affects Microsoft Exchange Server. It allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system by sending a specially crafted email message to the server.

Details of the Vulnerability

• Severity: High
• CVSS Score: 7.5 (CVSS v3.1)
• Impact: Remote code execution
• Affected Products: Microsoft Exchange Server
• Vulnerability Type: Remote code execution
• Exploitability: Easily exploitable
• Authentication: Not required

Exploitation

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted email message to a vulnerable Exchange Server. If the server processes the message, the attacker can execute arbitrary code on the server. This could allow the attacker to gain control of the server, steal data, or install malware.

Mitigation

Microsoft has released a security update to address this vulnerability. Users should install the update as soon as possible to protect their systems.

Impact

The CVE-2024-38178 vulnerability is a serious threat that could allow attackers to gain control of vulnerable systems. Users should take steps to mitigate the vulnerability as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

• Microsoft Security Advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-38178
• NVD Entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38178

3. CVE-2024-38063 – Critical Remote Code Execution Threat in Windows TCP/IP Stack

The CVE-2024-38063 vulnerability is a critical remote code execution vulnerability that affects the Windows TCP/IP stack. It allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system by sending a specially crafted packet to the system.

Details of the Vulnerability

• Severity: Critical
• CVSS Score: 9.8 (CVSS v3.1)
• Impact: Remote code execution
• Affected Products: Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2008 through 2022
• Vulnerability Type: Remote code execution
• Exploitability: Easily exploitable
• Authentication: Not required

Exploitation

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted packet to a vulnerable system. If the system processes the packet, the attacker can execute arbitrary code on the system. This could allow the attacker to gain control of the system, steal data, or install malware.

Mitigation

Microsoft has released a security update to address this vulnerability. Users should install the update as soon as possible to protect their systems.

Impact

The CVE-2024-38063 vulnerability is a serious threat that could allow attackers to gain control of vulnerable systems. Users should take steps to mitigate the vulnerability as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

• Microsoft Security Advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-38063
• NVD Entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38063

4. CVE-2024-36401- Remote Code Execution Flaw in GeoServer

The CVE-2024-36401 vulnerability is a remote code execution vulnerability that affects GeoServer, an open-source web server that provides geospatial data services. It allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system by sending a specially crafted request to the server.

Details of the Vulnerability

• Severity: Critical
• CVSS Score: 9.8 (CVSS v3.1)
• Impact: Remote code execution
• Affected Products: GeoServer
• Vulnerability Type: Remote code execution
• Exploitability: Easily exploitable
• Authentication: Not required

Exploitation

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted request to a vulnerable GeoServer instance. If the server processes the request, the attacker can execute arbitrary code on the server. This could allow the attacker to gain control of the server, steal data, or install malware.

Mitigation

GeoServer has released a security update to address this vulnerability. Users should install the update as soon as possible to protect their systems.

Impact

The CVE-2024-36401 vulnerability is a serious threat that could allow attackers to gain control of vulnerable systems. Users should take steps to mitigate the vulnerability as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

• NVD Entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-36401
• OSGeo https://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOT-7587 

5. CVE-2024-38178 – Memory Corruption Flaw in Windows Scripting Engine

The CVE-2024-38178 vulnerability is a memory corruption vulnerability that affects Microsoft Windows Scripting Engine. It allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system by tricking a user into opening a specially crafted document.

Details of the Vulnerability

• Severity: Critical
• CVSS Score: 9.8 (CVSS v3.1)
• Impact: Remote code execution
• Affected Products: Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022
• Vulnerability Type: Memory corruption
• Exploitability: Easily exploitable
• Authentication: Not required

Exploitation

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted document to a target user. If the user opens the document, the attacker can execute arbitrary code on the user’s system. This could allow the attacker to gain control of the system, steal data, or install malware.

Mitigation

Microsoft has released a security update to address this vulnerability. Users should install the update as soon as possible to protect their systems.

Impact

The CVE-2024-38178 vulnerability is a serious threat that could allow attackers to gain control of vulnerable systems. Users should take steps to mitigate the vulnerability as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

• Microsoft Security Advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-38178
• NVD Entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38178

Conclusion

As we wrap up the top CVEs of August 2024, it’s clear that these vulnerabilities are more than just technical issues. They’re critical challenges that demand immediate attention. Each CVE on this list has the potential to impact systems and organizations in significant ways, underscoring the need for proactive measures and vigilant monitoring. For more detailed information on these CVEs and how to manage them effectively, check out Strobes VI platform. 

The post Top 5 CVEs and Vulnerabilities of August 2024: Key Threats and How to Respond appeared first on Strobes Security.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from Strobes Security authored by Shubham Jha. Read the original post at: https://strobes.co/blog/top-5-cves-and-vulnerabilities-of-august-2024-key-threats-and-how-to-respond/