CVE-2015-4596 in Mouse Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Lenovo Mouse Suite before 6.73 allows local users to run arbitrary code with administrator privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4596 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Lenovo Mouse Suite software versions prior to 6.73. This vulnerability exists in the installation and execution mechanisms of the mouse driver suite, which is commonly pre-installed on lenovo laptops and desktop computers. The flaw allows local attackers with standard user privileges to escalate their access to administrator level permissions, thereby gaining complete control over the affected systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling during the installation process of the Lenovo Mouse Suite. The software fails to properly validate the privileges of the user executing the installation or update process, creating an opportunity for malicious code execution. This flaw aligns with CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities that can lead to privilege escalation, and more specifically with CWE-269, which addresses improper privilege management in software components. The vulnerability manifests when the mouse suite installer or update mechanism executes with elevated privileges without proper user authentication or privilege validation checks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise and individual users alike. Attackers can exploit this flaw by simply logging into a system with standard user credentials and executing malicious code that leverages the mouse suite's elevated privileges. This creates a persistent backdoor that can be used for data exfiltration, system compromise, or further lateral movement within a network. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges to initiate and can be executed through simple user interaction, making it highly accessible to threat actors with basic technical knowledge. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through software vulnerabilities, and T1547, which addresses registry run keys and startup folder modifications that can be used for persistence.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate system compromise, as it can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. Once an attacker achieves administrator privileges through this vulnerability, they can install rootkits, modify system files, disable security software, and establish persistent access. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users may have standard accounts while administrators maintain sensitive data and systems. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack surface that includes unpatched third-party software components. The remediation process requires immediate deployment of Lenovo Mouse Suite version 6.73 or later, along with comprehensive system audits to detect any potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, system administrators should implement privilege monitoring and user behavior analytics to detect anomalous activities that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability, as the attack can occur without obvious indicators of compromise.