CVE-2024-23940 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Trend Micro Security (Consumer) products, specifically the uiAirSupport component in version 6.0.2092 and earlier of the 2023 product family. The vulnerability is classified as a DLL hijacking or proxying issue (CWE-427), where an attacker can manipulate the loading of dynamic link libraries by impersonating or modifying a library that the application loads. This manipulation allows the attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the affected application. Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to privilege escalation, enabling the attacker to gain higher system privileges than initially permitted. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) shows that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability arises because the application improperly handles DLL loading paths, allowing an attacker to place a malicious DLL in a location where the application will load it instead of the legitimate one, leading to code execution and privilege escalation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those using Trend Micro Security consumer products on endpoints. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise. This could result in data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, disruption of services, and lateral movement within networks if consumer devices are connected to corporate environments. The requirement for local access and user interaction somewhat limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, particularly in scenarios involving social engineering or insider threats. Given the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, organizations could face regulatory and compliance consequences under GDPR if personal data is compromised. Additionally, the lack of an available patch increases the urgency for mitigation.

European organizations should implement specific mitigations beyond generic advice: 1) Restrict local access to endpoints running affected Trend Micro consumer products to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of local exploitation. 2) Educate users on the risks of executing unknown or untrusted files and the dangers of social engineering tactics that could trigger the vulnerability. 3) Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor and block unauthorized DLL loading or suspicious process behavior. 4) Regularly audit and monitor systems for unusual DLL files or modifications in directories where DLLs are loaded. 5) Segment consumer devices from critical corporate networks to reduce lateral movement potential. 6) Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans in case of compromise. 7) Monitor Trend Micro advisories closely for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available.