# CVE-2024-29187: WiX based installers are vulnerable to binary hijack when run as SYSTEM

> Standard users can hijack binaries in insecure temp directories during SYSTEM-level WiX installer execution, leading to privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 24 Mar 2024
- **Updated:** 13 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rf39-3f98-xr7r

## What is CVE-2024-29187?

CVE-2024-29187 is a high-severity vulnerability in wixtoolset issues, published on 24 Mar 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

WiX toolset lets developers create installers for Windows Installer, the Windows installation engine. When a bundle runs as SYSTEM user, Burn uses GetTempPathW which points to an insecure directory C:\Windows\Temp to drop and load multiple binaries. Standard users can hijack the binary before it's loaded in the application resulting in elevation of privileges. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.14.1 and 4.0.5.

Weakness: CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-29187?

6 open source packages ship an affected version, including WixToolset.Sdk and wix.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `WixToolset.Sdk` | NuGet | All versions | 4.0.5 |
| `WixToolset.Sdk` | NuGet | All versions | 4.0.5 |
| `wix` | NuGet | All versions | 3.14.1 |
| `wix` | NuGet | All versions | 3.14.1 |
| `wix` | NuGet | From 4.0.0 | 4.0.5 |
| `wix` | NuGet | From 4.0.0 | 4.0.5 |

## How do I fix CVE-2024-29187?

Upgrade WixToolset.Sdk to 4.0.5 or later.

## Is CVE-2024-29187 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-29187 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-29187 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-29187 is a high-severity vulnerability in wixtoolset issues, published on 24 Mar 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-29187 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- WixToolset.Sdk (NuGet): affected all versions; fixed in 4.0.5
- WixToolset.Sdk (NuGet): affected all versions; fixed in 4.0.5
- wix (NuGet): affected all versions; fixed in 3.14.1
- wix (NuGet): affected all versions; fixed in 3.14.1
- wix (NuGet): affected from 4.0.0; fixed in 4.0.5
- wix (NuGet): affected from 4.0.0; fixed in 4.0.5

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-29187/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-29187/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-29187
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-29187
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-29187

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-29187/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.