CVE-2024-3459

Kiosk escape via external PDF viewer

Published May 9, 2024 · Updated Aug 1, 2024

Improper alternate-path protection in KioWare for Windows 8.34 and earlier allows local users to execute programs with user privileges. A downloaded PDF opens in the system's external PDF viewer, whose built-in navigation reaches a browser, local files, and executable programs outside the kiosk boundary. Exploitation requires local kiosk interaction and a PDF download handled by the external viewer; the resulting programs retain the kiosk account's privileges.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper alternate-path protection in KioWare for Windows 8.34 and earlier allows local users to execute programs with user privileges. A downloaded PDF opens in the system's external PDF viewer, whose built-in navigation reaches a browser, local files, and executable programs outside the kiosk boundary. Exploitation requires local kiosk interaction and a PDF download handled by the external viewer; the resulting programs retain the kiosk account's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-3459
Published
May 9, 2024
Updated
Aug 1, 2024
Vendor
Analytical Design Solutions, Inc.
Product
KioWare
Classifications
CWE-424, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 9, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 1, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=8.34

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Analytical Design Solutions, Inc. · KioWareversion=0 <=8.34

Published CVSS scores

8.4CERT.PLCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-424Improper Protection of Alternate Path
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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