CVE-2010-5212 in LiveCycle Designer ES2
Summary
by MITRE
Untrusted search path vulnerability in Adobe LiveCycle Designer ES2 9.0.0.20091029.1.612548 allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse objectassisten_US.dll file in the current working directory, as demonstrated by a directory that contains a .tds file. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5212 represents a critical untrusted search path weakness in Adobe LiveCycle Designer ES2 version 9.0.0.20091029.1.612548 that enables local privilege escalation through malicious Trojan horse file placement. This flaw resides in the application's dynamic library loading mechanism where the software fails to properly validate the source and authenticity of dynamically loaded components. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes .tds files which contain references to external objectassist_us.dll libraries, creating an opportunity for attackers to place malicious DLL files in the current working directory of the target system. The root cause of this issue aligns with CWE-426, which describes the dangerous practice of allowing untrusted search paths that permit arbitrary code execution through library injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with a sophisticated vector for persistent system compromise. When a user opens a malicious .tds file, the application's loader searches through the current working directory for required dependencies before checking system directories, effectively allowing an attacker to place a malicious objectassist_us.dll file that will be executed with the privileges of the target user. This behavior creates a dangerous precedent where legitimate user interactions with potentially compromised documents can result in unauthorized privilege elevation. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it requires minimal user interaction beyond opening a document, making it suitable for social engineering campaigns that could be executed through email attachments or compromised web content. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for execution through command and scripting interpreter, and T1068 for privilege escalation through local exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-5212 must address both immediate system protection and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. Organizations should implement strict file access controls and ensure that the current working directory is not included in the DLL search path for applications handling untrusted content. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-provided security patches that correct the library loading behavior and implement proper path validation. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict which files can be executed from user directories, particularly in environments where users might encounter untrusted .tds files. Additionally, network segmentation and user access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, as the vulnerability requires local system access to execute effectively. The remediation process should include comprehensive system audits to identify any instances where malicious DLL files might have been placed in user directories, and security awareness training to prevent users from opening untrusted documents from unknown sources.