CVE-2009-5151 in Computrace Agent
Summary
by MITRE
The stub component of Absolute Computrace Agent V70.785 executes code from a disk's inter-partition space without requiring a digital signature for that code, which allows attackers to execute code on the BIOS. This allows a privileged local user to achieve persistent control of BIOS behavior, independent of later disk changes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2020
The CVE-2009-5151 vulnerability resides within the stub component of Absolute Computrace Agent version 70.785, representing a critical flaw in the system's boot process security model. This vulnerability specifically targets the inter-partition space on storage devices, where executable code can be loaded and executed without the required digital signature verification that normally protects such critical system components. The flaw exploits a fundamental weakness in the agent's design that fails to enforce proper code integrity checks during the early boot phases when system trust is established.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the stub component's failure to validate code authenticity before execution in the inter-partition space. This space typically contains boot sectors, master boot records, and other low-level system structures that are critical for system initialization. When the stub component loads code from this area without signature verification, it creates an attack surface that allows malicious actors to inject persistent code that executes at the BIOS level. The vulnerability operates at a privileged level since it leverages the legitimate stub component's functionality while bypassing normal security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-5151 is particularly severe as it enables attackers to achieve persistent control over BIOS behavior that remains unaffected by subsequent disk modifications or operating system reinstalls. This persistent nature makes the vulnerability extremely dangerous because once exploited, the malicious code can survive system reboots, disk formatting operations, and even complete operating system replacements. The attack vector specifically targets local privileged users who have access to the system's disk storage, making it particularly concerning for environments where physical access controls are insufficient. This vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a rootkit-like capability that operates at the firmware level, making detection and remediation extremely challenging.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-1104, which addresses the lack of validation of code authenticity in system boot processes, and represents a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework under the T1068 technique for local privilege escalation. The attack pattern follows a typical privilege escalation methodology where an attacker leverages existing system functionality to execute malicious code at elevated privileges, specifically targeting the BIOS level to ensure persistence. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from Absolute Software, proper access controls to disk partitions, and enhanced monitoring of boot processes. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper code signing policies and ensuring that all system components, particularly those operating at the BIOS level, enforce strict integrity checks before code execution occurs.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing the boot process and firmware components, as these areas represent the foundation of system security. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor that operates below the operating system level, making it resistant to traditional security measures such as antivirus software, operating system patches, and standard security monitoring tools. The persistent nature of the threat means that organizations must consider comprehensive system hardening approaches, including secure boot implementations and proper firmware access controls to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.