CVE-2002-0268 in BioLogon
Summary
by MITRE
Identix BioLogon 3 allows users with physical access to the system to gain administrative privileges by using CTRL-ALT-DEL and running a "Browse" function, which runs Explorer with SYSTEM privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0268 resides within Identix BioLogon 3, a biometric authentication system designed for secure access control. This flaw represents a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that exploits the system's handling of physical access scenarios. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanism's response to the CTRL-ALT-DEL combination, which traditionally serves as a security feature to initiate authentication processes. However, in this case, the system's implementation creates an exploitable pathway that undermines its intended security posture.
The technical flaw manifests when an attacker with physical access to the system presses CTRL-ALT-DEL and subsequently invokes a "Browse" function within the BioLogon 3 interface. This sequence triggers the execution of the Windows Explorer application with SYSTEM-level privileges, effectively bypassing the normal authentication and authorization controls. The vulnerability stems from improper privilege management and inadequate input validation within the system's interactive authentication handler. The "Browse" function, when executed through this specific key combination, operates outside the normal security boundaries that should protect against unauthorized administrative access. This behavior aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and specifically demonstrates weaknesses in privilege separation and execution context management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it transforms physical access into administrative control without requiring any authentication credentials. An attacker with access to the physical system can immediately escalate privileges and gain full administrative control over the machine, including access to sensitive data, system configuration modifications, and potential network reconnaissance activities. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of the BioLogon 3 system, which relies on biometric authentication to provide secure access control. The threat landscape is particularly concerning because physical access is often considered a baseline for security breaches, but this vulnerability enables immediate administrative compromise without the need for additional attack vectors or credential theft. The exploitability is high due to the simple nature of the attack vector, requiring only basic physical access and knowledge of the specific key combination.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security gap and the underlying architectural flaws that enabled the privilege escalation. The primary recommendation involves implementing proper privilege separation mechanisms within the BioLogon 3 system, ensuring that interactive functions like "Browse" do not execute with elevated privileges. System administrators should disable or restrict the CTRL-ALT-DEL functionality for administrative operations and implement proper input validation for all interactive functions. Additionally, the system should enforce strict privilege contexts for all executed applications, particularly those that interface with the Windows Explorer component. Security configurations should include mandatory access controls and privilege monitoring to detect unauthorized administrative activities. Organizations should also consider implementing additional physical security measures and monitoring for unauthorized system access attempts. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which addresses local privilege escalation through improper privilege management, and emphasizes the importance of privilege validation and proper execution context enforcement.