CVE-2017-2290 in mcollective-puppet-agent Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
On Windows installations of the mcollective-puppet-agent plugin, version 1.12.0, a non-administrator user can create an executable that will be executed with administrator privileges on the next "mco puppet" run. Puppet Enterprise users are not affected. This is resolved in mcollective-puppet-agent 1.12.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-2290 represents a privilege escalation flaw within the mcollective-puppet-agent plugin for Windows systems. This issue specifically affects version 1.12.0 of the plugin where a non-administrator user can manipulate the system to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of file permissions and execution contexts within the plugin's architecture, creating a path for privilege escalation that bypasses normal user access controls. The flaw is particularly concerning because it allows a low-privilege attacker to effectively gain administrative rights through legitimate system operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the mcollective-puppet-agent plugin's handling of temporary files or executable components during the "mco puppet" command execution process. When a non-administrator user can influence the creation or modification of files that will be executed during the next puppet run, they can place malicious executables in locations that are subsequently executed with administrator privileges. This typically occurs through directory traversal, file overwrite, or symbolic link manipulation techniques that exploit the plugin's trust in user-supplied paths or file locations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-787, representing an out-of-bounds write condition that allows privilege escalation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on mcollective-puppet-agent for configuration management, as it provides a direct path for attackers to escalate privileges and potentially gain complete system control. The vulnerability affects all Windows installations of the plugin, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users may have access to the system. When exploited, the malicious executable runs with elevated privileges during the next puppet execution cycle, allowing attackers to perform actions such as installing backdoors, modifying system files, or accessing sensitive data that would otherwise be restricted to administrators. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for further attacks within the network.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to mcollective-puppet-agent version 1.12.1 or later to address this vulnerability, as this represents the official fix provided by the vendor. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring to detect unauthorized file modifications in directories that are part of the plugin's execution path, particularly focusing on temporary or staging directories that may be used during puppet runs. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit user access to systems running this plugin, while regular security audits should verify that no unauthorized modifications have been made to plugin components. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect and alert on changes to critical plugin files that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in privilege handling and the need for proper input validation and access control mechanisms in system management tools.