CVE-2012-4880 in DVD Architect Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple untrusted search path vulnerabilities in DVD Architect Pro 5.2 Build 133 and DVD Architect Studio 5.0 Build 156 allow local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse (1) enc_mp2v.200 or (2) CFHDDecoder.dll file in the current working directory, as demonstrated by a directory that contains a .dar 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 • 02/05/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4880 represents a critical untrusted search path issue affecting DVD Architect Pro 5.2 Build 133 and DVD Architect Studio 5.0 Build 156 software applications. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-426 category, which specifically addresses "Untrusted Search Path" flaws that occur when applications search for required libraries or components in directories that may contain malicious files. The vulnerability stems from the software's failure to properly validate the source and integrity of files loaded from the current working directory, creating an attack vector where malicious actors can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The affected software components include the enc_mp2v.200 and CFHDDecoder.dll files, which are critical elements in the video encoding and decoding processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a local user places malicious files with the specific names enc_mp2v.200 or CFHDDecoder.dll in the current working directory of the DVD Architect application. When the application attempts to load these components during normal operation, particularly when processing .dar files, it inadvertently loads the malicious versions instead of the legitimate ones. This creates a privilege escalation scenario where the malicious code executes with the same privileges as the legitimate application, potentially allowing attackers to gain elevated system access. The attack requires local system access and relies on social engineering or pre-positioning of malicious files in directories where the application expects to find its dependencies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and data exposure. When successfully exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user, potentially leading to complete system takeover if the application runs with administrative privileges. The vulnerability affects the software's ability to maintain integrity and trust in its component loading process, creating a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the vulnerable application is installed on the system. Organizations running these specific versions of DVD Architect software face significant risk, particularly in environments where local user access is not properly restricted or monitored.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4880 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary recommendation involves updating to patched versions of DVD Architect Pro and DVD Architect Studio, as the vendor would have addressed the untrusted search path issue through proper path validation and component loading mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should implement strict file permission controls and directory access restrictions to prevent unauthorized file placement in application directories. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running applications with minimal required permissions and by implementing application whitelisting policies that prevent execution of untrusted binaries. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect suspicious file placement activities, while regular security audits should verify that no vulnerable versions remain installed in the environment, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which addresses privilege escalation through local exploits.