Fortra's security research team has identified a novel exploit chain, tracked as CVE-2024-6769, which allows attackers to bypass Windows User Access Control (UAC) and escalate privileges to gain full system control. While Microsoft considers this issue a "non-boundary" and not a true vulnerability, Fortra experts caution against underestimating the risk.
Tyler Reguly, Associate Director of Security R&D at Fortra, explains in an interview with Dark Reading that this exploit could enable attackers to manipulate critical system files, disable security features, and even upload malicious code—all without triggering UAC warnings.
Learn more about the exploit, Fortra’s research, and what businesses can do to stay protected.
Originally published in Dark Reading.
Excerpt: "When UAC was introduced, we were all sold on the idea that it was this great new security feature. If Microsoft says this is a boundary that’s acceptable to traverse, what they’re really saying is that UAC isn’t a security feature—it’s just a helpful mechanism, but not actually security-related," said Tyler Reguly, Associate Director of Security R&D at Fortra.
