CVE-2017-2279 in Tween
Summary
by MITRE
Untrusted search path vulnerability in Tween Ver1.6.6.0 and earlier allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2279 represents a critical untrusted search path issue affecting Tween version 1.6.6.0 and earlier implementations. This flaw resides in the application's dynamic link library loading mechanism where the software fails to properly validate or sanitize the search paths used to locate required DLL files. The vulnerability manifests when the application attempts to load a DLL file from a directory that has not been properly secured or validated, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-428, which describes the weakness of untrusted search path conditions where applications use insecure paths to locate and load dynamic libraries. This particular implementation flaw allows an attacker to place a malicious DLL file in a directory that is searched before the legitimate system directories, effectively hijacking the application's execution flow. The unspecified directory mentioned in the description suggests that the vulnerable application may be searching in user-writable locations or directories with insufficient access controls, making it susceptible to privilege escalation attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to system security as it enables attackers to gain elevated privileges without requiring direct access to system resources. The Trojan horse DLL attack vector allows adversaries to exploit the trust relationship between the application and its library dependencies, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability means that even if an attacker initially gains access with limited user rights, they can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code with higher privileges, potentially compromising the entire system.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include potential lateral movement within network environments. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can establish persistent access and use the elevated privileges to conduct further reconnaissance, data exfiltration, or deployment of additional malicious payloads. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where applications may be running with administrative privileges or have access to sensitive data repositories.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2279 should focus on implementing proper DLL loading practices and strengthening the application's security posture. Organizations should ensure that applications are configured to use secure search paths that prioritize system directories over user-writable locations. The recommended approach includes implementing proper DLL validation mechanisms, using absolute paths for library loading, and ensuring that all directories in the search path have appropriate access controls. Additionally, applying the latest security patches and updates from the vendor is critical to resolving this vulnerability, as the issue affects specific versions of the Tween software that have been superseded by more secure implementations.
Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for suspicious DLL loading activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a privilege escalation issue means that comprehensive security monitoring should include detection of unauthorized privilege increases and unusual application behavior patterns. Regular security assessments and penetration testing can help identify similar untrusted search path vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure, as this type of flaw is relatively common in legacy software implementations.