CVE-2010-2929 in hsolink
Summary
by MITRE
Untrusted search path vulnerability in hsolinkcontrol in hsolink 1.0.118 allows local users to gain privileges via a modified PATH environment variable, which is used during execution of the (1) route, (2) mv, and (3) cp programs, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-1671.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2929 represents a critical untrusted search path issue within the hsolinkcontrol component of hsolink version 1.0.118. This flaw resides in the improper handling of environment variables during the execution of system commands, creating a privilege escalation vector that can be exploited by local attackers. The vulnerability specifically affects the route, mv, and cp programs which are executed with elevated privileges, making the attack surface particularly dangerous for system integrity and security.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the insecure use of the PATH environment variable within the hsolinkcontrol executable. When the program executes the route, mv, and cp commands, it does not properly sanitize or validate the search path, allowing attackers to manipulate the environment variable to point to maliciously crafted binaries. This behavior aligns with CWE-426, which describes the insecure use of system calls or commands that can be exploited to bypass security controls. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to substitute legitimate system utilities with malicious counterparts that execute with the privileges of the target process.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2929 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary code with elevated permissions. This vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can manipulate system commands to perform unauthorized operations such as moving, copying, or routing files with administrative privileges. The attack requires local access but can result in complete system compromise, making it particularly concerning for environments where local user access is not strictly controlled. This vulnerability operates under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the "Path Interception" method where adversaries manipulate the execution environment to redirect command execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2929 should focus on implementing proper environment variable sanitization and using absolute paths for system command execution. System administrators should ensure that the PATH environment variable is properly validated and that commands are executed with explicit full paths rather than relying on the default search order. Additionally, privilege separation mechanisms should be implemented to reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. The recommended approach includes patching the affected software to version 1.0.118 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes, and implementing monitoring for suspicious PATH modifications. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized binaries from executing with elevated privileges, thereby reducing the effectiveness of such path interception attacks.