CVE-2013-10046 in Outpost Internet Security
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2025
A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Agnitum Outpost Internet Security 8.1 that allows an unprivileged user to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. The flaw resides in the acs.exe component, which exposes a named pipe that accepts unauthenticated commands. By exploiting a directory traversal weakness in the pipe protocol, an attacker can instruct the service to load a malicious DLL from a user-controlled location. The DLL is then executed in the context of the privileged service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-10046 represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw within Agnitum Outpost Internet Security version 8.1, specifically affecting the acs.exe service component. This security weakness creates a pathway for unprivileged attackers to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM-level privileges, fundamentally compromising the integrity and security posture of the affected system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication mechanisms within the named pipe interface, which serves as the communication channel between the user-space application and the privileged service.
The technical exploitation mechanism involves a directory traversal vulnerability embedded within the named pipe protocol implementation of the acs.exe service. When the service processes commands received through the named pipe, it fails to properly validate file paths, allowing attackers to manipulate the service into loading malicious dynamic link libraries from arbitrary locations. This directory traversal weakness specifically affects how the service interprets and resolves file paths, enabling attackers to bypass normal access controls and load code from user-controlled directories. The vulnerability manifests through the service's failure to sanitize input parameters, particularly those related to DLL loading operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system control through the privileged acs.exe service. Once exploited, the malicious DLL executes with SYSTEM privileges, granting attackers unrestricted access to system resources, file systems, registry modifications, and network operations. This elevated privilege level allows for persistent backdoor installation, credential theft, system monitoring, and further lateral movement within the network. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication from the attacker, making it accessible to any local user with basic system access.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of insecure direct object reference and improper input validation, aligning with CWE-22 (Directory Traversal) and CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) categories. The exploit demonstrates characteristics commonly associated with privilege escalation attacks in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping to techniques involving service execution and privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal prerequisites, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local user access is not strictly controlled.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected Agnitum Outpost Internet Security version 8.1, as well as implementing additional security controls such as restricting access to the named pipe interface through access control lists, monitoring for suspicious DLL loading activities, and applying principle of least privilege configurations. Network segmentation and user access controls should be enhanced to limit local user privileges where possible. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify other potential vulnerabilities in similar security software components and implement proper input validation and path sanitization measures throughout their software development lifecycle.