📄 Description (English)
Null pointer dereference in Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2026-24293 is a null pointer dereference vulnerability in Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock affecting Windows 10 and 11 across multiple architectures. An authorized local attacker can exploit this to elevate privileges to SYSTEM level. With a CVSS score of 7.8 and patch availability, this requires immediate deployment across Saudi enterprise environments.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 29, 2026 04:55
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi government agencies, banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions), and critical infrastructure operators. Government entities using Windows 10/11 endpoints are particularly vulnerable to insider threats and lateral movement attacks. Banking institutions face risks to workstations accessing SAMA-regulated systems. Telecom operators (STC, Mobily) and energy sector (ARAMCO) face potential compromise of administrative workstations. Healthcare organizations using Windows endpoints for patient data access are at risk of unauthorized privilege escalation.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government
Banking
Healthcare
Energy
Telecommunications
Critical Infrastructure
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1548.004 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Bypass User Account Control
T1134.003 - Access Token Manipulation: Make and Impersonate Token
T1547.008 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Kernel Modules and Extensions
T1543.003 - Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service
T1112 - Modify Registry
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all Windows 10 (21H2, 22H2) and Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2) systems across x86, x64, and ARM64 architectures
2. Prioritize patching for administrative and privileged user workstations
3. Restrict local administrative access and enforce principle of least privilege
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Deploy Microsoft security updates immediately via Windows Update or WSUS
2. For Windows 10 21H2/22H2: Apply latest cumulative security updates
3. For Windows 11 23H2/24H2: Apply latest cumulative security updates
4. Test patches in non-production environment first
5. Implement phased rollout starting with critical systems
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if patching delayed):
1. Disable WinSock Auxiliary Function Driver if not required for operations
2. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized driver loading
3. Enable Windows Defender Application Guard for sensitive workstations
4. Enforce Code Integrity/Device Guard policies
5. Monitor for suspicious driver loading attempts
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor Event ID 6 (Driver Loaded) for afd.sys with suspicious parameters
2. Alert on null pointer dereference exceptions in kernel mode
3. Track privilege escalation attempts from low-privilege to SYSTEM context
4. Monitor WinSock API calls with malformed parameters
5. Implement EDR rules for unexpected kernel driver interactions
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع أنظمة Windows 10 (21H2، 22H2) و Windows 11 (23H2، 24H2) عبر معماريات x86 و x64 و ARM64
2. إعطاء الأولوية لتصحيح محطات العمل الإدارية والمميزة
3. تقييد الوصول الإداري المحلي وفرض مبدأ الامتياز الأقل
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. نشر تحديثات أمان Microsoft فوراً عبر Windows Update أو WSUS
2. لـ Windows 10 21H2/22H2: تطبيق أحدث التحديثات الأمنية التراكمية
3. لـ Windows 11 23H2/24H2: تطبيق أحدث التحديثات الأمنية التراكمية
4. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئة غير الإنتاج أولاً
5. تنفيذ النشر المرحلي بدءاً من الأنظمة الحرجة
الضوابط البديلة (إذا تأخر التصحيح):
1. تعطيل WinSock Auxiliary Function Driver إذا لم يكن مطلوباً للعمليات
2. تنفيذ القائمة البيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع تحميل برنامج التشغيل غير المصرح به
3. تفعيل Windows Defender Application Guard لمحطات العمل الحساسة
4. فرض سياسات Code Integrity/Device Guard
5. مراقبة محاولات تحميل برنامج التشغيل المريبة
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة معرف الحدث 6 (Driver Loaded) لـ afd.sys بمعاملات مريبة
2. التنبيه على استثناءات null pointer dereference في وضع kernel
3. تتبع محاولات رفع الامتيازات من سياق منخفض الامتياز إلى SYSTEM
4. مراقبة استدعاءات WinSock API بمعاملات مشوهة
5. تنفيذ قواعد EDR للتفاعلات غير المتوقعة مع برنامج التشغيل kernel
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 - Access Control Policies
ECC 2024 A.5.2.1 - User Registration and De-registration
ECC 2024 A.8.1.1 - Information Security Awareness
ECC 2024 A.12.2.1 - Change Management
ECC 2024 A.12.6.1 - Management of Technical Vulnerabilities
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.AM-2 - Hardware and Software Assets
SAMA CSF PR.DS-6 - Integrity Checking Mechanisms
SAMA CSF PR.PT-3 - Access Control Implementation
SAMA CSF DE.CM-4 - Malicious Code Detection
SAMA CSF RS.MI-2 - Incident Response Procedures
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.1 - Policies for Information Security
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.2 - Information Security Roles and Responsibilities
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.1 - User Endpoint Devices
ISO 27001:2022 A.12.6 - Management of Technical Vulnerabilities
ISO 27001:2022 A.14.2 - System Development and Acceptance
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 2.4 - Configuration Standards
PCI DSS 6.2 - Security Patches and Updates
PCI DSS 11.2 - Vulnerability Scanning
📦 Affected Products / CPE 17 entries
microsoft:windows_10_21h2
microsoft:windows_10_21h2
microsoft:windows_10_21h2
microsoft:windows_10_22h2
microsoft:windows_10_22h2
microsoft:windows_10_22h2
microsoft:windows_11_23h2
microsoft:windows_11_23h2
microsoft:windows_11_24h2
microsoft:windows_11_24h2
microsoft:windows_11_25h2
microsoft:windows_11_25h2
microsoft:windows_11_26h1
microsoft:windows_11_26h1
microsoft:windows_server_2022
microsoft:windows_server_2022_23h2
microsoft:windows_server_2025