Windows Microsoft's Critical Vulnerability (CVE) leads to system's blue screen crash, as reported by researchers.

Windows Microsoft's Critical Vulnerability (CVE) leads to system's blue screen crash, as reported by researchers.

A recently discovered vulnerability, known as CVE-2024-6768, is causing concern among Microsoft users. This vulnerability, which was first reported by cybersecurity company Fortra in December 2023, affects all versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11[1].

The vulnerability is related to the Common Log File System (CLFS) of Microsoft Windows and can lead to a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), effectively crashing the system[1]. Microsoft has acknowledged the issue, but as of July 2025, no official patch has been released to fix this vulnerability[1].

In the wild, this zero-day vulnerability has been exploited by attackers to establish initial access in compromised systems. After exploiting CVE-2024-6768, attackers deploy multiple stages of malicious actions including stealthy deployment of ASPX web shells on SharePoint servers. These web shells are disguised with seemingly normal filenames and timestamps to evade detection[1].

The attackers also steal encryption keys (MachineKey components like ValidationKey, DecryptionKey) from server configuration files via these web shells. With these keys, they can forge authentication tokens (e.g., __VIEWSTATE payloads), sustaining persistent unauthorized access even after partial remediation efforts[1].

Due to the vulnerability's ability to facilitate persistent intrusion and credential theft beyond the initial exploit, full recovery requires server rebuild, key rotation, and complete refresh of authentication credentials[1].

Microsoft has stated that the research shared with them does not rise to the level of a security threat that requires an immediate response[1]. However, the continued activity of attackers suggests that mitigation efforts are ongoing primarily through detection and remediation on the affected systems[1].

In summary, CVE-2024-6768 is a serious vulnerability due to its zero-day nature, persistence mechanisms, and lack of an official patch. Users are advised to exercise caution when running unfamiliar programs and to stay vigilant for any updates from Microsoft regarding a fix for this vulnerability.

[1] Source: Fortra, Microsoft

(Editor's note: This article has been updated to include additional details from Fortra and a statement from Microsoft.)

1. The cybersecurity issue, CVE-2024-6768, compromises data-and-cloud-computing systems by facilitating stealthy deployment of malicious ASPX web shells on SharePoint servers, posing a threat to the security of Microsoft Windows users.
2. Amid the concerns of cybersecurity experts, the vulnerability CVE-2024-6768, found in the Common Log File System (CLFS) of Microsoft Windows, remains unaddressed by any official patches as of July 2025, highlighting the need for users to prioritize technology-driven cybersecurity measures in their systems.

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