CVE-2017-16637 in Perfect Privacy VPN Manager
Summary
by MITRE
In Vectura Perfect Privacy VPN Manager v1.10.10 and v1.10.11, when resetting the network data via the software client, with a running VPN connection, a critical error occurs which leads to a "FrmAdvancedProtection" crash. Although the mechanism malfunctions and an error occurs during the runtime with the stack trace being issued, the software process is not properly terminated. The software client is still attempting to maintain the connection even though the network connection information is being reset live. In that insecure mode, the "FrmAdvancedProtection" component crashes, but the process continues to run with different errors and process corruptions. This local corruption vulnerability can be exploited by local attackers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2019
CVE-2017-16637 represents a critical local privilege escalation vulnerability in Vectura Perfect Privacy VPN Manager versions 1.10.10 and 1.10.11 that stems from improper error handling during network reset operations. This vulnerability falls under CWE-248, an Uncaught Exception, where the application fails to properly terminate its process when encountering a critical error during network data reset operations. The flaw manifests when users attempt to reset network data while maintaining an active VPN connection, creating a state where the FrmAdvancedProtection component experiences a crash but the overall process continues to execute with corrupted internal states. The stack trace indicates that the software client fails to properly handle the exception scenario, allowing the process to persist in an inconsistent state where network connection information is reset while the application attempts to maintain VPN connectivity. This creates a dangerous operational environment where the application's internal memory structures become corrupted, potentially allowing attackers to exploit this instability for malicious purposes.
The vulnerability's exploitation potential is significant as it represents a local code execution vector that can be leveraged by attackers with local system access. According to ATT&CK framework, this maps to T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as the corrupted process state could potentially be manipulated to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the running VPN client. The persistent nature of the process after the crash means that the application continues operating with corrupted memory structures, creating opportunities for memory corruption attacks or privilege escalation techniques. The specific component failure in FrmAdvancedProtection suggests that the vulnerability may be exploitable through heap-based memory corruption techniques, where the corrupted state allows for controlled overwrite of critical application memory regions. This represents a classic case of improper resource management where the application fails to properly clean up its state during error conditions, creating a persistent security weakness.
From a security impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that could allow local attackers to gain elevated privileges or execute malicious code within the context of the VPN client process. The continued execution of the corrupted process after the crash means that any memory corruption artifacts remain accessible to the attacker, potentially enabling techniques such as return-oriented programming or other binary exploitation methods. The vulnerability's classification as a local corruption vulnerability specifically indicates that it requires local system access to exploit, but once exploited, could provide attackers with the ability to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code. The fact that the process continues running with different errors suggests that the application's error recovery mechanisms are fundamentally flawed, creating a persistent unstable state that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling and security assessments, particularly in environments where local system access is possible or where the VPN client runs with elevated privileges. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper exception handling and process cleanup mechanisms in security-critical applications, particularly those handling network connections and system-level operations.