CVE-2017-2740 in ThinPro
Summary
by MITRE
A potential security vulnerability has been identified with the command line shell of the HP ThinPro operating system 6.1, 5.2.1, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0, and 4.4. The vulnerability could result in a local unauthorized elevation of privilege on an HP thin client device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2019
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2017-2740 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the HP ThinPro operating system versions 6.1, 5.2.1, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0, and 4.4. This security weakness specifically targets the command line shell component of the thin client operating system, creating a pathway for local attackers to gain unauthorized administrative privileges. The vulnerability exists in the shell implementation that handles command execution and user authentication processes, making it particularly dangerous in environments where thin clients are deployed for enterprise computing. The flaw allows an attacker with local access to potentially escalate their privileges from a standard user account to administrative level access, fundamentally compromising the security posture of the affected devices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of shell command execution and privilege management within the HP ThinPro operating system. The shell component fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters during command processing, creating opportunities for malicious command injection attacks. This weakness is classified under CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and specifically relates to CWE-78, which addresses OS command injection. The vulnerability manifests when local users can manipulate shell execution flows to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and execute commands with elevated privileges. The underlying issue appears to be in the shell's privilege separation logic, where insufficient checks allow arbitrary command execution that can be leveraged to escalate access rights.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments relying on HP thin client deployments. Organizations using these affected versions of HP ThinPro face potential unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, system compromise, and possible lateral movement within their networks. The local privilege escalation capability means that even if attackers initially gain access through social engineering or other vectors, they can use this vulnerability to elevate their access level and gain full administrative control over the thin client devices. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly, as the vulnerability exists in the core operating system components. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potential disruption of business operations, data breaches, and regulatory compliance violations.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2740 should focus on immediate remediation through official HP security patches and updates. Organizations must prioritize applying the vendor-provided fixes as soon as they become available, as the vulnerability provides direct paths to administrative access. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit local access to affected thin client devices, reducing the attack surface. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potential weaknesses in the thin client environment. Additionally, implementing proper monitoring and logging of shell command executions can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, and T1059, covering command and scripting interpreters. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication and least privilege access controls for all thin client access points to reduce the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.