CVE-2013-3496 in ViPNet Client
Summary
by MITRE
Infotecs ViPNet Client 3.2.10 (15632) and earlier, ViPNet Coordinator 3.2.10 (15632) and earlier, ViPNet Personal Firewall 3.1 and earlier, and ViPNet SafeDisk 4.1 (0.5643) and earlier use weak permissions (Everyone: Full Control) for a folder under %PROGRAMFILES%\Infotecs, which allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse (1) executable file or (2) DLL file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3496 affects multiple Infotecs ViPNet security products including the ViPNet Client, Coordinator, Personal Firewall, and SafeDisk applications. This issue stems from improper access control permissions assigned to specific directories within the program files folder, creating a significant privilege escalation vector for local attackers. The flaw exists in versions 3.2.10 and earlier for ViPNet Client and Coordinator, version 3.1 and earlier for Personal Firewall, and version 4.1 with build 0.5643 and earlier for SafeDisk, representing a widespread configuration weakness across the product suite.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the use of weak file permissions where the Everyone group is granted Full Control access to folders located under the %PROGRAMFILES%\Infotecs directory structure. This permission model violates fundamental security principles by allowing any local user to modify critical system components without proper authentication or authorization. When an attacker places a malicious executable or dynamic link library file in these directories, the system will execute the malicious code with the elevated privileges of the target application, effectively enabling privilege escalation from standard user level to administrative privileges. This represents a classic path-based privilege escalation attack pattern that aligns with CWE-276, which specifically addresses improper file permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides local attackers with a straightforward method to escalate their privileges within the system. Attackers can leverage this weakness by creating Trojan horse files that will be executed by the vulnerable applications, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no network connectivity or external attack vectors, making it exploitable through simple local file manipulation. The attack surface is broad since multiple Infotecs products are affected, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation in environments where these security tools are deployed. This weakness creates a persistent backdoor that could remain undetected for extended periods, as the malicious files would appear to be legitimate application components.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including reviewing and correcting the file permissions on all Infotecs ViPNet directories under Program Files, ensuring that only authorized users and processes have write access to these locations. The recommended approach involves restricting permissions to specific user groups or service accounts rather than granting Everyone:Full Control. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of all installed Infotecs products to identify and remediate affected versions. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies can prevent unauthorized executable files from running in these critical directories, while regular security monitoring should be employed to detect any suspicious file modifications. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and adherence to the principle of least privilege as outlined in security frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploitation. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of the affected Infotecs products and maintain ongoing vulnerability assessments to prevent similar configuration weaknesses from emerging in other security applications.