CVE-2024-38014: Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Flaw

Automated analysis

Generated by VULONE's analysis model from the NVD record, CISA KEV and EPSS data on 17 September 2026. Confidence: high.

high priorityThe vulnerability is actively exploited (CISA KEV) and allows local privilege escalation with low complexity, though it requires local access and low privileges.

What it is

CVE-2024-38014 is an elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Windows Installer, classified as improper privilege management (CWE-269). It affects a broad range of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server versions, and Microsoft has released a patch. Because it allows a local user to gain higher privileges, it is a serious risk on multi-user and shared systems.

Impact

A local attacker can elevate their privileges to a higher integrity level, potentially gaining administrative or SYSTEM-level access. This can lead to full compromise of the affected host, including data theft, persistence, and further lateral movement.

Attack surface

The vulnerability is reachable locally (AV:L) with low attack complexity and low privileges required (PR:L), and no user interaction (UI:N). An attacker must already have the ability to execute code or run programs on the target system.

Exploitation

CVE-2024-38014 is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating active exploitation in the wild. EPSS estimates a 6.26% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, placing it in the 93rd percentile.

What to do

• Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2024-38014 as soon as possible.
• If patching is not immediately possible, follow CISA's required action to apply vendor mitigations or discontinue use of the affected product.
• Restrict local interactive logon and execution privileges to only trusted users on affected systems.
• Monitor for and investigate unexpected privilege escalation attempts or suspicious Windows Installer activity.

Detection

• Monitor Windows Installer (msiexec.exe) process creation and look for unusual parent-child relationships or command-line arguments.
• Enable and review Windows Installer verbose logging to detect anomalous installation or repair operations.
• Correlate local privilege escalation events (e.g., token manipulation, new service creation) with recent msiexec activity.
• Use EDR or Sysmon to alert on processes spawning from msiexec.exe with elevated privileges.

This assessment is produced automatically and is not human-reviewed. Verify against the vendor advisory before acting on it.