CVE-2024-43506
Published: 08 October 2024
Summary
CVE-2024-43506 is a high-severity Uncontrolled Resource Consumption (CWE-400) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 1607. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 6.8% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
CVE-2024-43506 is a denial-of-service vulnerability in Microsoft BranchCache, a Windows component used for caching content from remote servers to improve performance in distributed environments. The flaw is tracked under CWE-400 and carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5, reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, no required privileges or user interaction, and high impact on availability while leaving confidentiality and integrity unaffected.
An unauthenticated remote attacker can send specially crafted network traffic to a vulnerable BranchCache instance, triggering uncontrolled resource consumption that renders the service unavailable. Successful exploitation requires only network reachability to the target and can disrupt caching operations for legitimate clients without needing credentials or prior access.
The Microsoft Security Response Center advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-43506 provides official guidance on affected Windows versions and available patches. The current EPSS score of 0.0995 shows no material increase since disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2024-40762
Vulnerability details
BranchCache Denial of Service Vulnerability
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Limiting concurrent sessions directly prevents uncontrolled resource consumption by capping the number of active sessions per user or account.
Analysis identifies uncontrolled resource consumption indicative of denial-of-service or abuse attempts.
Contingency plan testing includes resource exhaustion scenarios to verify recovery, making it harder for attackers to sustain exploits that cause uncontrolled consumption.
Updated contingency plans include current procedures to detect, contain, and recover from resource exhaustion, limiting an attacker's ability to sustain impact from uncontrolled consumption.
Alternate site allows resumption of operations if resource exhaustion at the primary site is exploited to cause unavailability.
Alternate telecommunications services enable resumption of essential functions when primary services become unavailable due to uncontrolled resource consumption.
The team can analyze and respond to resource exhaustion incidents, reducing the impact of attacks that exploit uncontrolled consumption weaknesses.
Timely maintenance support and spare parts enable rapid recovery from failures induced by uncontrolled resource consumption, shortening the impact window of denial-of-service attacks.