CVE-2016-2246 in ThinPro
Summary
by MITRE
HP ThinPro 4.4 through 6.1 mishandles the keyboard layout control panel and virtual keyboard application, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions and gain privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2246 affects HP ThinPro operating systems version 4.4 through 6.1, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that stems from improper handling of keyboard layout control panel and virtual keyboard application components. This issue resides within the system's user interface management mechanisms where keyboard input handling is not properly secured against unauthorized manipulation by local users. The vulnerability demonstrates a significant weakness in the operating system's access control implementation, particularly in how it processes keyboard-related configuration changes that should typically be restricted to authorized administrative users.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper validation and authorization checks within the keyboard layout control panel functionality and virtual keyboard application interfaces. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the keyboard configuration processes to bypass intended security restrictions that normally prevent local users from accessing elevated privileges. This vulnerability operates at the system level where user input handling mechanisms fail to properly enforce privilege boundaries, creating an attack surface that allows unauthorized privilege escalation. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack pathways exist within the keyboard input handling subsystem, potentially including manipulation of keyboard mapping files, virtual keyboard state changes, or direct interface manipulation of keyboard configuration components.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a severe threat to system security as it enables local users to escalate their privileges without requiring administrative credentials or complex attack vectors. The implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially allow full system compromise, as attackers could gain access to sensitive system files, modify critical configurations, or execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This vulnerability directly impacts the security model of HP ThinPro systems by undermining the principle of least privilege and potentially enabling lateral movement within network environments where these thin clients are deployed. The local nature of the attack means that any user with physical access or session privileges could exploit this flaw, making it particularly dangerous in shared or public computing environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with privilege escalation vulnerabilities in operating system components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques where adversaries leverage weaknesses in system interfaces to gain elevated permissions. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from HP, implementing strict access controls for keyboard configuration interfaces, and monitoring for unauthorized keyboard layout changes. Additional protective measures should include disabling unnecessary keyboard-related services, implementing proper user access controls, and conducting regular security assessments of thin client environments to identify similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in other system components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure configuration management in thin client operating systems and the need for comprehensive security testing of user interface components that handle system-level operations.