CVE-2014-5453 in Uplay PC
Summary
by MITRE
Ubisoft Uplay PC before 4.6.1.3217 use weak permissions (Everyone: Full Control) for the program installation directory (%PROGRAMFILES%\Ubisoft Game Launcher), which allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5453 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Ubisoft Uplay PC client software prior to version 4.6.1.3217. This issue stems from the installation directory permissions being configured with overly permissive access controls that grant full control rights to the Everyone group. The affected directory path %PROGRAMFILES%\Ubisoft Game Launcher demonstrates a fundamental security misconfiguration where standard Windows file system permissions were not properly enforced during the software installation process.
The technical flaw manifests through weak permission settings that allow any local user to modify files within the Ubisoft Game Launcher installation directory. This misconfiguration creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can place Trojan horse files in the installation directory and subsequently execute them with the elevated privileges of the Uplay client. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-276, which addresses improper permissions for critical system resources, and represents a classic example of insecure default permissions in software installations. The flaw operates through a privilege escalation vector where local users can leverage their ability to write to the installation directory to inject malicious code that will execute with the privileges of the Uplay process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation to potentially enable broader system compromise. When local users can write to the installation directory, they gain the ability to replace legitimate executable files with malicious counterparts, effectively creating a persistent backdoor or malware delivery mechanism. This vulnerability affects all local users of the affected Uplay versions and can be exploited without requiring network access or special authentication credentials. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the Uplay client typically runs with elevated privileges due to its role in game management and digital rights protection. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by both malicious insiders and external attackers who gain local access to systems running vulnerable Uplay versions.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to Ubisoft Uplay version 4.6.1.3217 or later, which addresses the weak permission settings in the installation directory. System administrators should also implement regular permission audits of critical installation directories and enforce proper access controls using Windows security policies. The remediation process should include verifying that installation directories for software applications do not grant unnecessary write permissions to the Everyone group or other generic user accounts. Additionally, organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized executable files from running in critical system directories, aligning with the principle of least privilege and reducing the attack surface for similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure software installation practices and proper permission management in preventing local privilege escalation attacks.