CVE-2014-1680 in Bandizip
Summary
by MITRE
Untrusted search path vulnerability in Bandisoft Bandizip before 3.10 allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse dwmapi.dll file in the current working directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1680 represents a classic untrusted search path issue affecting Bandisoft Bandizip versions prior to 3.10. This flaw resides in the software's dynamic link library loading mechanism, where the application fails to properly validate the source of dynamically loaded libraries. The vulnerability specifically manifests when Bandizip attempts to load the dwmapi.dll file, which is a legitimate Windows system library responsible for desktop window manager functionality. However, the application's insecure library loading behavior allows an attacker to place a malicious dwmapi.dll file in the current working directory, effectively hijacking the application's execution flow.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-426, which describes the weakness of untrusted search path, and aligns with the broader category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities. The flaw operates under the principle that applications should not trust libraries loaded from the current working directory without proper validation of their authenticity and origin. The attack vector leverages the fact that Bandizip does not implement proper library path validation, allowing an attacker to place a malicious dwmapi.dll file in the same directory as the vulnerable application. This Trojan horse approach exploits the trust model that operating systems typically maintain between legitimate system libraries and their expected locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable full system compromise. When a local user executes the vulnerable Bandizip application, the malicious dwmapi.dll file gets loaded instead of the legitimate system library, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Bandizip. This creates a persistent threat vector where an attacker can establish a foothold on the system and potentially escalate privileges further through additional exploitation techniques. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction and can be exploited through simple file placement in the current working directory.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1680 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary fix involves updating to Bandizip version 3.10 or later, where the developers implemented proper library loading validation. Additionally, system administrators should implement proper file permissions and access controls to prevent unauthorized users from placing malicious files in directories where vulnerable applications might execute. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing secure coding practices such as using absolute paths for library loading and implementing digital signature verification for dynamically loaded components. Organizations should consider applying the principle of least privilege to limit the impact of such vulnerabilities and regularly audit their software environments for similar search path issues. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper library loading practices and serves as a reminder that even legitimate system components can be exploited when applications fail to validate their execution environment.