# CVE-2024-3459: Security feature bypass in Kioware

> Attackers can escape the KioWare kiosk environment by downloading PDFs to launch external programs, bypassing security restrictions.

- **Severity:** High 8.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 May 2024
- **Updated:** 1 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gww7-xg42-6356

## What is CVE-2024-3459?

CVE-2024-3459 is a high-severity vulnerability in Kioware, published on 9 May 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

KioWare for Windows (versions all through 8.34) allows to escape the environment by downloading PDF files, which then by default are opened in an external PDF viewer. By using built-in functions of that viewer it is possible to launch a web browser, search through local files and, subsequently, launch any program with user privileges.

Weakness: CWE-424 (Improper Protection of Alternate Path)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-3459?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Kioware Kioware.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-3459?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-3459 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-3459 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-3459 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Kioware

- [CVE-2023-34641](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34641/): Security feature bypass in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-34642](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34642/): Command injection in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2024-3460](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-3460/): Security feature bypass in Kioware (high 7.4)
- [CVE-2024-3461](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-3461/): Security feature bypass in Kioware (medium 6.2)
- [CVE-2022-44875](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-44875/): Code injection in n/a (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-3459 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-3459 is a high-severity vulnerability in Kioware, published on 9 May 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-3459 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Kioware. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2024-3459/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-3459/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-3459
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-3459
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-3459

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-3459/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.