CVE-2017-3005 in Photoshop
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Photoshop versions CC 2017 (18.0.1) and earlier, CC 2015.5.1 (17.0.1) and earlier have an unquoted search path vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2020
Adobe Photoshop applications suffer from an unquoted search path vulnerability that stems from improper handling of environment variables during the application startup process. This flaw exists in versions up to and including CC 2017 (18.0.1) and CC 2015.5.1 (17.0.1), creating a pathway for malicious code execution through path manipulation. The vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly quote directory paths in the Windows search path, allowing attackers to place malicious executables in directories that are searched before the legitimate application components. This weakness falls under CWE-177 known as "Improper Handling of Windows Absolute Path" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1036.003 for "Masquerading" through path manipulation. The vulnerability enables privilege escalation attacks where an attacker can place a malicious DLL or executable in a directory that will be searched before the legitimate Photoshop components, potentially leading to code execution with elevated privileges. When Photoshop loads, it searches for required libraries and components in the system path without proper path quoting, making it susceptible to DLL hijacking attacks. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the logged-in user. Attackers typically exploit this by placing malicious binaries in common directories such as Program Files, or other locations in the search path where the application will load them before the legitimate components. This vulnerability represents a significant security risk in enterprise environments where users may have local administrator rights, as it allows for persistent backdoor installation and lateral movement within the network. The flaw demonstrates poor secure coding practices in path resolution and highlights the importance of proper input validation and secure environment variable handling. Organizations should implement strict path quoting practices and regularly audit their system paths to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities. The recommended mitigation includes updating to patched versions of Adobe Photoshop, implementing application whitelisting policies, and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar path traversal vulnerabilities. This vulnerability also underscores the need for defense-in-depth strategies that include monitoring for suspicious file placements in system directories and implementing least privilege access controls to limit the impact of such exploits. The attack surface is particularly wide in environments where multiple users share systems or where administrative privileges are not properly restricted.