CVE-2024-23764 is a local privilege escalation (LPE) vulnerability affecting multiple WithSecure security products, including WithSecure Client Security 15 and later, WithSecure Server Security 15 and later, WithSecure Email and Server Security 15 and later, and WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection 17 and later. The vulnerability allows an attacker with existing local access and high privileges to escalate their privileges further, potentially gaining full control over the affected system. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.7, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access to the system. The attack complexity is low (AC:L), and the attacker requires high privileges (PR:H) but no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability is classified under CWE-269, which relates to improper privileges or permissions. No public exploits are known at this time, and no patches or mitigation links are currently provided. The vulnerability could allow an attacker who already has elevated privileges to further escalate their access, potentially compromising the entire system and bypassing security controls enforced by WithSecure products. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, system manipulation, or disruption of security services.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for enterprises relying on WithSecure security solutions to protect endpoints, servers, and email infrastructure. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass security controls, leading to full system compromise, data breaches, and disruption of critical business operations. Organizations in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government could face compliance violations and reputational damage if sensitive data is exposed. The local attack vector limits remote exploitation but insider threats or attackers who have gained initial footholds could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and move laterally within networks. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that exploitation could result in data theft, unauthorized changes to system configurations, or denial of security services, undermining trust in the affected security products.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Monitor WithSecure vendor communications closely for official patches or updates addressing CVE-2024-23764 and apply them promptly once available. 2) Restrict local administrative access strictly to trusted personnel and implement robust access controls and auditing to detect unauthorized privilege escalations. 3) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting suspicious privilege escalation behaviors and anomalous local activity. 4) Conduct regular security reviews and penetration testing focusing on privilege escalation vectors within environments using WithSecure products. 5) Harden systems by minimizing the number of users with high privileges and enforcing the principle of least privilege. 6) Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement opportunities if an attacker gains local access. 7) Educate IT and security teams about this vulnerability to increase awareness and readiness to respond to potential exploitation attempts. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, and vendor patch management specific to the affected WithSecure products.