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Mallory
MediumCISA KEVExploited in the wildPublic exploit

Windows Mark of the Web / SmartScreen Security Feature Bypass (copy2pwn)

IdentifiersCVE-2024-38213CWE-693· Protection Mechanism Failure

CVE-2024-38213 is a Windows Mark of the Web (MotW) security feature bypass vulnerability affecting SmartScreen protections. Microsoft describes it as a Windows Mark of the Web Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability, and reporting cited in the provided content states it allows an attacker to bypass the SmartScreen security feature. Additional reporting from ZDI identifies the issue as "copy2pwn" and states that it results in a file from a WebDAV share being copied locally without Mark of the Web protections. In practical terms, a file obtained from a WebDAV location can lose the MotW metadata that would normally cause Windows security controls such as SmartScreen to warn or restrict execution, enabling delivery of malicious content with reduced user-facing protections. The vulnerability was reported as exploited in the wild, including by DarkGate operators, and was also referenced in Sandworm-linked activity.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation allows an attacker to defeat Windows trust and warning mechanisms associated with Mark of the Web, specifically bypassing SmartScreen protections for malicious files delivered via the affected path. This increases the likelihood that a victim will open or execute attacker-controlled content without the normal security prompts or policy enforcement expected for internet-originated files. The vulnerability does not itself provide code execution, but it materially lowers the barrier to subsequent malware execution, phishing payload delivery, or initial access. The provided content states it was actively exploited in the wild.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

Until patching is fully deployed, reduce exposure to untrusted files delivered from WebDAV shares or other remote locations, restrict or disable unnecessary WebDAV access where operationally feasible, and enforce controls that prevent users from opening untrusted downloaded or remotely hosted files. Additional defensive measures include attachment and file-type filtering, application control, user awareness around suspicious files, and monitoring for suspicious file delivery followed by execution from user-writable locations. Because the vulnerability bypasses MotW/SmartScreen protections, compensating controls should not rely solely on those mechanisms.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply Microsoft's security update for CVE-2024-38213. The provided content indicates Microsoft released a patch for this vulnerability and that it was included in the August 2024 disclosures, with some reporting noting it had originally been patched as part of the June 2024 Patch Tuesday. Organizations should ensure affected Windows systems are updated to the relevant security level that addresses CVE-2024-38213.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

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VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
Microsoft CorporationWindows 10 1507operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows 10 1607operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows 10 1809operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows 10 21h2operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows 10 22h2operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows 11 21h2operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows 11 22h2operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows 11 23h2operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Server 2012operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Server 2012 R2operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Server 2016operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Server 2019operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Server 2022operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Server 2022 23h2operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Server 23h2operating_system

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What this page doesn’t show

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Exposure mapping

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Threat actor evidence2

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures1

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Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity1

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.