CVE-2007-1279 in installer
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the installer for Adobe Bridge 1.0.3 update for Apple OS X, when patching with desktop management tools, allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors during installation of the update by a different user who has administrative privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1279 represents a privilege escalation issue within Adobe Bridge 1.0.3 installer for Apple OS X systems. This flaw specifically manifests during the installation process when desktop management tools are employed to patch the software, creating a security gap that local users can exploit to elevate their privileges. The vulnerability is categorized under the broader class of privilege escalation weaknesses that have been documented in the CWE database as CWE-264, which encompasses permissions, privileges, and access controls. The issue stems from inadequate security controls during the update installation phase, particularly when multiple users share the same system with varying privilege levels.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the installer's handling of administrative privileges and file system permissions during the patching process. When a user with administrative rights installs the Adobe Bridge update, the installer may not properly validate or restrict access to certain system resources, allowing local users to manipulate the installation process. This typically occurs through the exploitation of race conditions, improper access control checks, or insufficient validation of the installation context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where one user might attempt to escalate privileges by interfering with another user's administrative installation process. According to ATT&CK framework, this scenario would fall under T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as it involves leveraging a software vulnerability to gain elevated system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources, modify critical files, or install malicious software with administrative privileges. In enterprise environments, this could allow malicious users to compromise the integrity of the system and potentially gain access to confidential data or network resources. The vulnerability becomes more severe when considering that the installation process typically requires administrative privileges, making it a prime target for exploitation by users who might not normally have such access. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where desktop management tools are widely used for automated patch deployment, as it could allow attackers to bypass security controls that are meant to prevent unauthorized system modifications. The issue demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation in installer components and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of update mechanisms in enterprise software distributions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper access controls during installation processes, ensuring that only authorized users can initiate privileged operations, and validating all installation contexts before proceeding with administrative actions. Organizations should consider implementing least privilege principles for installation processes, ensuring that desktop management tools operate with minimal required privileges, and regularly updating software components to address known vulnerabilities. The remediation approach should include proper validation of user credentials and system state checks before allowing installation of updates, particularly in multi-user environments. Additionally, system administrators should monitor installation processes for unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of security testing for installation components and the need for comprehensive security controls in enterprise software deployment processes, particularly when dealing with automated patch management solutions.