CVE-2015-7963 in Authentication Service for AD FS Agent
Summary
by MITRE
SafeNet Authentication Service for AD FS Agent uses a weak ACL for unspecified installation directories and executable modules, which allows local users to gain privileges by modifying an executable module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2020
The SafeNet Authentication Service for AD FS Agent vulnerability represents a critical access control weakness that undermines the security posture of enterprise authentication infrastructure. This flaw manifests in the form of weak access control lists within unspecified installation directories and executable modules, creating an exploitable condition that local adversaries can leverage to escalate their privileges. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication service component that integrates with Active Directory Federation Services, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where privileged access is frequently required.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate permission management during the installation process of the SafeNet Authentication Service agent. When the software installs its components, it fails to properly configure access control lists for critical directories and executable modules, leaving these resources accessible to local users with minimal privileges. This misconfiguration allows attackers to modify executable files without requiring administrative credentials, effectively bypassing the intended security controls that should protect these sensitive components from unauthorized modification. The weakness directly corresponds to CWE-276, which addresses improper permissions for critical resources, and represents a classic privilege escalation vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to compromise the entire authentication infrastructure. Once an attacker gains the ability to modify executable modules, they can inject malicious code that persists across system reboots and can potentially escalate to domain-level privileges. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where AD FS agents are deployed to manage federated authentication across multiple systems and applications, as it creates a potential entry point for attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive authentication services. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through the exploitation of system vulnerabilities.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including verifying and strengthening access control lists on all installation directories and executable modules, applying vendor-provided patches when available, and conducting comprehensive security audits of authentication service installations. Network segmentation and monitoring of executable modification activities can help detect exploitation attempts. Regular privilege reviews and adherence to the principle of least privilege should be enforced to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access control implementation during software deployment and underscores the necessity of regular security assessments to identify and remediate weak permission configurations that could enable privilege escalation attacks.