CVE-2017-10849 in DocuWorks
Summary
by MITRE
Untrusted search path vulnerability in Self-extracting document generated by DocuWorks 8.0.7 and earlier allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10849 represents a critical untrusted search path issue within DocuWorks 8.0.7 and earlier versions that fundamentally compromises system security through improper dynamic link library loading mechanisms. This flaw exists in the self-extracting document generation process where the application fails to properly validate or restrict the directories from which it loads dynamic libraries, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to enforce secure library loading practices during the extraction process of self-contained documents. When DocuWorks processes a self-extracting document, it searches through a predetermined set of directories in a specific order to locate required DLL files. This search path behavior creates an opportunity for attackers to place malicious DLL files in directories that are searched before the legitimate application directories, particularly in locations accessible to unprivileged users. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker places a Trojan horse DLL with the same name as a legitimate library in a directory that appears earlier in the search path, causing the system to load the malicious code instead of the intended legitimate component.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-427 Uncontrolled Search Path Element, which specifically addresses the issue of applications using search paths that include untrusted directories, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. The operational impact is severe as it enables attackers to achieve privilege escalation without requiring direct system access or administrative credentials, as the vulnerability exploits the legitimate application execution context to load malicious code. The attack vector typically involves social engineering to convince users to open a maliciously crafted self-extracting document, which then executes the attacker's payload with the privileges of the victim user, potentially escalating to system-level access depending on the user's permissions.
The exploitation process requires minimal technical sophistication from attackers, as it relies on the inherent design flaw in the application's library loading mechanism rather than complex exploitation techniques. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various means including phishing campaigns, malicious document distribution via email or web portals, or by compromising legitimate documents that are later opened by unsuspecting users. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable full system compromise when combined with other attack techniques, as the malicious DLL can perform actions such as credential harvesting, system reconnaissance, or installation of additional malware components.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to DocuWorks versions that address this specific flaw, implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized DLL files, and conducting comprehensive security audits of the application's library loading behavior. System administrators should also consider implementing directory access controls that prevent unprivileged users from placing files in directories that are searched by critical applications, and deploy monitoring solutions that can detect unusual DLL loading patterns. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and proper library loading mechanisms, particularly in applications that handle user-generated content or documents that may be executed in potentially hostile environments, as it demonstrates how seemingly minor design flaws can create significant security risks that persist across multiple system components and user contexts.