CVE-2017-14773 in Manager Client Application
Summary
by MITRE
Skybox Manager Client Application prior to 8.5.501 is prone to an elevation of privileges vulnerability during authentication of a valid user in a debugger-pause state. The vulnerability can only be exploited by a local authenticated attacker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14773 affects the Skybox Manager Client Application version 8.5.501 and earlier, presenting a critical elevation of privileges flaw that occurs during user authentication when the application is in a debugger-pause state. This security weakness specifically targets the authentication mechanism and represents a significant concern for systems relying on Skybox's network security management solutions. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication states when the application encounters debugging conditions, creating an exploitable path for privilege escalation.
The technical flaw manifests when a legitimate user attempts authentication while the application is suspended in a debugger-pause condition. Under normal circumstances, authentication processes should maintain strict state controls and validation mechanisms. However, in this scenario, the application's authentication subsystem fails to properly validate the user context when debugging is active, allowing an authenticated local user to potentially bypass normal privilege controls. This condition creates a race window or state inconsistency that malicious actors can leverage to escalate their privileges within the system. The vulnerability operates at the application level rather than affecting system-level components, but its impact on authenticated user sessions can be substantial.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly concerning for organizations using Skybox Manager Client Application for network security monitoring and management. An attacker who has already established legitimate user credentials can exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges, potentially enabling them to access sensitive network data, modify security configurations, or perform actions that should be restricted to administrative users. The requirement for local authentication access limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the threat, as many network security environments involve users with legitimate administrative access who may be targeted. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a specific case of privilege escalation through authentication state management failures.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires a local authenticated attacker who can manipulate the debugging state of the application, making it a low-impact but high-consequence threat. Attackers typically need to have legitimate user access to the system and must be able to pause the application in a debugging state while authentication is occurring. This type of attack maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers the exploitation of remote services, though in this case it's a local privilege escalation scenario. Organizations should consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring for unusual debugging activities or authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper state management during debugging scenarios and reinforces the need for robust authentication mechanisms that remain secure under all execution conditions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14773 focus primarily on updating to Skybox Manager Client Application version 8.5.501 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the authentication state handling issue. System administrators should also implement monitoring controls to detect unauthorized debugging activities or unusual authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their access control policies and ensure that only necessary users have local access to the application, reducing the potential attack surface. The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring that authentication states remain consistent regardless of debugging conditions, thereby preventing the privilege escalation path that previously existed. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls that limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability primarily affects local authenticated users within the application environment.