CVE-2005-2940 in antispyware
Summary
by MITRE
unquoted windows search path vulnerability in microsoft antispyware 1.0.509 (beta 1) might allow local users to gain privileges via a malicious "program.exe" file in the c: folder involving the programs (1) giantantispywaremain.exe (2) gcasnotice.exe (3) gcasserv.exe (4) gcasswupdater.exe or (5) giantantispywareupdater.exe. note: it is not clear whether this overlaps cve-2005-2935.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2940 represents a critical unquoted search path weakness in Microsoft Antispyware 1.0.509 beta 1 that could enable local privilege escalation attacks. This flaw exploits the Windows operating system's default behavior of searching for executable files in a specific order when a program path contains spaces but lacks proper quotation. The vulnerability specifically affects five key executables including giantantispywaremain.exe, gcasnotice.exe, gcasserv.exe, gcasswupdater.exe, and giantantispywareupdater.exe which are components of the Microsoft Antispyware suite. When these programs attempt to launch other executables without proper path quotation, Windows searches through the specified directories in order until it finds the first matching executable file, potentially executing malicious code placed in unexpected locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of executable paths within the antispyware application framework. According to CWE-428, this represents an unquoted search path vulnerability where the operating system's path resolution mechanism fails to properly validate or quote paths containing spaces. The attack vector specifically targets the c: folder where a malicious program.exe file could be placed, taking advantage of the fact that Windows searches for executables in the order specified by the PATH environment variable. When the antispyware applications attempt to execute their dependent components without proper quoting, they inadvertently execute the malicious executable located in the root c: directory instead of the intended legitimate program.
This vulnerability presents significant operational impact as it allows local users to escalate privileges from standard user accounts to higher privilege levels, potentially enabling complete system compromise. The attack requires local system access but does not necessitate network connectivity or remote exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where users may have varying privilege levels. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects beta software that was likely being tested in controlled environments, suggesting that similar issues may exist in production versions of the antispyware suite. The potential for privilege escalation means that attackers could gain administrative rights, modify system files, install additional malware, or access sensitive data stored on the compromised system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected Microsoft Antispyware 1.0.509 beta 1 software to the latest available version that addresses the unquoted search path issue. System administrators should also implement proper path quoting practices for all executable files in the system, ensuring that paths containing spaces are properly enclosed in quotation marks. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting user access to system directories and implementing proper file permissions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation tactic. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized programs, and conduct regular security audits to identify and remediate similar path traversal vulnerabilities across their software ecosystem.