CVE-2002-1924 in PowerChute
Summary
by MITRE
PowerChute plus 5.0.2 creates a "Pwrchute" directory during installation that is shared and world writeable, which could allow remote attackers to modify or create files in that directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1924 represents a critical security flaw in PowerChute Plus version 5.0.2, a network management tool designed for monitoring and controlling uninterruptible power supplies. During the installation process, the software automatically creates a directory named "Pwrchute" that is improperly configured with world-writeable permissions. This configuration creates a fundamental security weakness that directly violates the principle of least privilege and provides attackers with unauthorized access to critical system resources.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate permission handling during software installation, where the Pwrchute directory is created with overly permissive access controls that allow any user or process to write to the directory. This represents a classic example of insecure default configuration and improper access control implementation. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-732 as "Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1546.001 for System Scripting for privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. The world-writeable directory structure creates an attack surface that enables malicious actors to inject malicious code, modify existing files, or create new files that could be executed by legitimate processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides remote attackers with a means to compromise systems running PowerChute Plus 5.0.2. Attackers can exploit this weakness to upload malicious executables, modify configuration files, or inject code that could persist across system reboots. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for arbitrary code execution within the context of the PowerChute service, potentially enabling full system compromise. Network-based attacks can be launched without requiring local access, making this a remote exploit that could affect multiple systems simultaneously. The vulnerability also creates a persistent threat vector that could be leveraged for lateral movement within network environments where PowerChute Plus is deployed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1924 should focus on immediate permission correction and long-term security hardening. System administrators must manually correct the directory permissions by removing world-writeable access and ensuring that only authorized users and processes can modify the Pwrchute directory. The recommended approach involves setting restrictive permissions using standard file system access control mechanisms and implementing proper directory ownership controls. Organizations should also consider applying the vendor-supplied patch or upgrade to a newer version of PowerChute Plus that addresses this permission issue. Security monitoring should include regular audits of directory permissions and file integrity checks to detect unauthorized modifications. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access control lists can help limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while following the principle of least privilege ensures that the software runs with minimal required permissions to reduce the attack surface.