CVE-2010-5244 in Sandra 2012
Summary
by MITRE
Untrusted search path vulnerability in SiSoftware Sandra 2010 Lite 2010.7.16.52 allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse dwmapi.dll file in the current working directory, as demonstrated by a directory that contains a .sis file. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5244 represents a critical untrusted search path issue affecting SiSoftware Sandra 2010 Lite version 2010.7.16.52. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of CWE-426 Untrusted Search Path, which specifically addresses the dangerous practice of searching for executable files or libraries in directories that are not properly secured or trusted. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the search path used to locate required dynamic link libraries, creating an opportunity for privilege escalation through malicious file placement.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a Trojan horse attack vector involving a malicious dwmapi.dll file placed in the current working directory of the application. The dwmapi.dll library is a legitimate Windows system component responsible for desktop window manager functionality, making it an ideal target for this type of attack since users and applications often trust the presence of these system libraries. When the vulnerable SiSoftware Sandra application attempts to load the dwmapi.dll library, it searches through the current working directory before checking system directories, allowing an attacker to place a malicious version that executes with the privileges of the target application.
This vulnerability has significant operational impact as it enables local users to achieve privilege escalation without requiring external network access or complex exploitation techniques. The attack requires only that an attacker can write to the directory where the vulnerable application executes, which is often trivial in user contexts or when the application is run from writable locations. The demonstration using a directory containing a .sis file highlights that the vulnerability can be triggered through seemingly benign file operations, making detection and prevention more challenging. The .sis file format is commonly used for software installation packages on mobile devices, but in this context it serves as a trigger for the application to process files in the current directory.
The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 Privilege Escalation through the use of untrusted search paths, where adversaries leverage application behavior to execute malicious code with elevated privileges. This vulnerability also relates to broader attack chains involving DLL hijacking and privilege escalation through trusted system components. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can potentially allow attackers to access sensitive system information, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access through the elevated privileges gained. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper library loading practices and the dangers of relying on untrusted search paths in application design.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper library loading mechanisms that prioritize system directories over user-controlled locations, enforcing secure coding practices for path resolution, and implementing application whitelisting controls. System administrators should consider restricting write permissions to directories where vulnerable applications execute, and organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar untrusted search path issues in other software components. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of following secure coding guidelines and adhering to the principle of least privilege in application design to prevent such exploitation vectors from being available to attackers.