CVE-2017-2178 in Electronic Tendering
Summary
by MITRE
Untrusted search path vulnerability in Installer of electronic tendering and bid opening system available prior to May 25, 2017 allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2178 represents a critical untrusted search path weakness within the installer component of an electronic tendering and bid opening system. This flaw existed in versions released prior to May 25, 2017, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust assumptions. The vulnerability specifically targets the installer's behavior when resolving dynamic link library dependencies, allowing attackers to place malicious Trojan horse DLL files in directories that the installer searches during execution. This particular weakness falls under CWE-427, which describes uncontrolled search path dependencies, and more broadly aligns with CWE-78, representing OS command injection vulnerabilities that can arise from improper path handling. The installer component typically operates with elevated privileges during installation processes, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could enable privilege escalation attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the installer's failure to properly validate or sanitize the search path used when loading dynamic libraries. When the installer executes, it follows a predetermined sequence of directories to locate required DLL files, often including the current working directory or other user-controllable locations. An attacker who can place a malicious DLL with the same name as a legitimate system library in one of these directories can cause the installer to load and execute the malicious code instead of the intended library. This behavior creates a privilege escalation vector because the installer typically runs with administrator or system-level privileges, meaning any code loaded through this mechanism inherits those elevated permissions. The vulnerability is particularly insidious because it can be exploited without requiring user interaction beyond the initial installation process, and the attacker only needs to place files in directories that the installer searches, which may include locations accessible to standard users.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2178 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass broader system compromise capabilities within tendering and bid opening environments. These systems typically handle sensitive procurement information and may contain proprietary bidding data, financial records, and strategic business information. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially install backdoors, keyloggers, or other persistent malicious components that would remain undetected while providing continued access to the compromised system. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1068, covering exploit for privilege escalation. The electronic tendering systems are often deployed in government or enterprise environments where the compromise of such systems could lead to significant financial loss, data breaches, and potential security incidents affecting multiple stakeholders. Additionally, the nature of procurement systems means that attackers could potentially manipulate the bidding process itself, affecting the integrity of the tendering process and potentially leading to fraudulent outcomes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2178 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-provided patch or update released on or before May 25, 2017, which would correct the installer's search path behavior. Organizations should also implement strict file permission controls, ensuring that only authorized administrators can write to directories that the installer searches. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by configuring the installer to use absolute paths for all required libraries rather than relying on the system search path. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for unauthorized DLL files in system directories and implement application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized binaries. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices, particularly in installer and setup components, and demonstrates the need for proper input validation and path resolution mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training for system administrators and developers to prevent similar issues in custom applications, as this vulnerability represents a common pattern that can occur in any software component that handles dynamic library loading without proper security controls.