CVE-2017-20112 in IVPN
Summary
by MITRE • 06/29/2022
A vulnerability has been found in IVPN Client 2.6.6120.33863 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality. The manipulation of the argument --up cmd leads to improper privilege management. The attack needs to be approached locally. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 2.6.2 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
This vulnerability resides within the IVPN Client software version 2.6.6120.33863, representing a critical security flaw that compromises privilege management through improper argument handling. The specific weakness manifests when the --up cmd argument is manipulated, creating a scenario where unauthorized privilege escalation can occur. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates severe potential impact on system security and user privacy. This issue affects the underlying functionality of the VPN client, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical flaw operates through local privilege escalation mechanisms where an attacker with access to the system can manipulate the --up cmd argument to bypass normal security controls. This represents a classic privilege management failure that can be exploited to gain elevated system access. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local access, meaning an attacker must already have some level of system presence or user access to attempt the attack. This local requirement reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the threat, as local access often represents a significant security compromise. The issue stems from improper validation and handling of command line arguments, specifically those related to up command execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially allowing attackers to compromise the entire VPN client infrastructure and associated network communications. Since VPN clients often handle sensitive network traffic and maintain persistent connections, exploitation could lead to data interception, man-in-the-middle attacks, or complete network access. The vulnerability affects the client's ability to properly manage user privileges, which could result in unauthorized access to network resources, data exfiltration, or the ability to modify system configurations. The disclosed exploit status means that threat actors have already developed methods to leverage this weakness, increasing the immediate risk to affected systems.
The recommended mitigation involves upgrading to version 2.6.2 or later, which addresses the privilege management flaw through proper argument validation and privilege handling mechanisms. This upgrade process should be implemented immediately across all affected systems to prevent potential exploitation. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any systems that may have been compromised before the patch was applied. Organizations using IVPN Client should implement additional monitoring to detect any suspicious privilege escalation attempts or unusual network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design. This weakness also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," highlighting the operational security implications of such vulnerabilities in real-world attack scenarios.