CVE-2010-5205 in ONE Office Author
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple untrusted search path vulnerabilities in e-press ONE Office Author allow local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse (1) java_msci.dll or (2) msci_java.dll file in the current working directory, as demonstrated by a directory that contains a .psw file. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5205 represents a critical privilege escalation issue affecting e-press ONE Office Author software. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of dynamic library loading mechanisms within the application's execution environment. The flaw manifests when the software attempts to load specific dynamic link libraries java_msci.dll and msci_java.dll from the current working directory without proper validation of the library source or path. This behavior creates a dangerous condition where malicious actors can place specially crafted DLL files in the same directory as the vulnerable application, leading to arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-426, which describes Untrusted Search Path vulnerabilities where applications search for libraries in directories that could be manipulated by attackers. The vulnerability operates through a classic Trojan horse attack pattern where an attacker places malicious DLL files in the application's working directory, typically through social engineering or by exploiting existing user privileges. When the legitimate application executes and attempts to load these libraries, it inadvertently loads the malicious versions instead of the intended system libraries, enabling privilege escalation attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where users may have local access to systems running the vulnerable software. The attack vector requires local system access and the ability to place files in directories where the application executes, which is often achievable through various means including social engineering, insider threats, or compromised user accounts. The privilege escalation aspect means that even if an attacker initially has limited user privileges, they can potentially gain administrative or system-level access to the compromised system.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it can serve as a foothold for further lateral movement within networks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges to domain administrator accounts, or deploy additional malicious tools. The vulnerability's exploitation is particularly concerning because it does not require network access or external attack vectors, making it a low-effort, high-impact threat. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling exercises and ensure proper application whitelisting policies are implemented to prevent unauthorized DLL loading.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including immediate patching of affected software versions, implementation of application control measures such as software restriction policies or application whitelisting solutions, and regular security audits of system directories to detect unauthorized DLL placements. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper library loading mechanisms that avoid searching untrusted directories for dynamic libraries. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for users can help prevent social engineering attacks that might be used to place malicious DLL files in target directories. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for maintaining up-to-date software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect against various attack vectors including those that exploit trust relationships within software execution environments.