CVE-2017-20123 in Viscosity
Summary
by MITRE • 06/30/2022
A vulnerability was found in Viscosity 1.6.7. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown part of the component DLL Handler. The manipulation leads to untrusted search path. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 1.6.8 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20123 represents a critical security flaw in Viscosity version 1.6.7, specifically within its DLL Handler component. This issue falls under the CWE-426 Untrusted Search Path vulnerability category, which occurs when software searches for executable files or libraries in directories that are not properly secured or validated. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates the severe potential impact on system security and the likelihood of successful exploitation by malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests through an untrusted search path condition where the DLL Handler component fails to properly validate or sanitize the paths used to locate and load dynamic link libraries. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate the search order and potentially load malicious code in place of legitimate system libraries. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can initiate the attack without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where Viscosity might be used for VPN connections or other network services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation or code execution. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw can potentially gain unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable versions of Viscosity, leading to data breaches, system compromise, or further lateral movement within network environments. The fact that this exploit has been publicly disclosed increases the risk profile significantly, as it provides threat actors with documented techniques to target affected systems. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Viscosity's DLL handling mechanisms, which are essential for proper software operation and security.
Organizations and users running Viscosity 1.6.7 should immediately implement the recommended mitigation by upgrading to version 1.6.8, which contains the necessary patches to address this security flaw. The upgrade process should be prioritized and tested in controlled environments before deployment to production systems. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network monitoring and intrusion detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Windows Command Shell and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers may leverage the compromised system for further reconnaissance or lateral movement activities. The remediation process should also include verifying that no malicious DLLs have been loaded into memory or installed on affected systems, as the vulnerability could have been exploited to establish persistence or maintain access to compromised environments.