CVE-2024-13169 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability classified under CWE-125 and CWE-843 affecting Ivanti Endpoint Manager versions before the January 2025 security updates. The vulnerability arises from improper bounds checking in the software, allowing a local authenticated attacker to read memory outside the intended buffer boundaries. This memory disclosure can lead to privilege escalation by enabling the attacker to access sensitive data or manipulate program state to gain higher privileges. The attack vector requires local access with valid credentials but no user interaction, making it a threat primarily from insider threats or compromised accounts. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as indicated by the CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 with high impact on all three security properties. Although no public exploits are reported yet, the nature of the vulnerability and the critical role of Ivanti Endpoint Manager in enterprise environments make this a significant risk. The flaw is particularly dangerous because endpoint management software often runs with elevated privileges and controls critical system functions, so exploitation can lead to full system compromise or lateral movement within networks. The vulnerability was reserved and published in early January 2025, with patches expected in the January 2025 security updates. Organizations should monitor Ivanti advisories closely and prepare for immediate remediation.

The vulnerability allows a local authenticated attacker to escalate privileges, potentially gaining administrative or SYSTEM-level access on affected endpoints. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification or deletion of critical system files, and disruption of endpoint management operations. Given Ivanti Endpoint Manager’s role in managing and securing enterprise endpoints, exploitation could facilitate lateral movement, persistent access, and widespread compromise within corporate networks. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of enterprise systems are all at risk, which could result in data breaches, operational downtime, and loss of trust. Organizations relying heavily on Ivanti Endpoint Manager for endpoint security and configuration management are particularly vulnerable. The requirement for local authentication limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk from insider threats or attackers who have already gained initial footholds. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future exploitation attempts.

1. Apply the January 2025 security updates from Ivanti immediately upon release to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Until patches are available, restrict local access to systems running Ivanti Endpoint Manager to trusted personnel only. 3. Implement strict least privilege policies to minimize the number of users with local authenticated access. 4. Monitor logs and endpoint activity for unusual privilege escalation attempts or anomalous behavior. 5. Use application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect and block suspicious memory access patterns. 6. Conduct regular audits of user accounts and permissions on systems running Ivanti Endpoint Manager. 7. Educate administrators and users about the risks of privilege escalation and the importance of safeguarding credentials. 8. Segment networks to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 9. Consider deploying additional endpoint protection layers that can detect exploitation attempts targeting memory corruption vulnerabilities.