CVE-2017-3747 in Nerve Center
Summary
by MITRE
Privilege escalation vulnerability in Lenovo Nerve Center for Windows 10 on Desktop systems (Lenovo Nerve Center for notebook systems is not affected) that could allow an attacker with local privileges on a system to alter registry keys.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3747 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Lenovo Nerve Center software specifically targeting Windows 10 desktop systems. This vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the software's registry modification capabilities, creating a pathway for local attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative rights. The flaw is particularly concerning as it affects desktop configurations while leaving notebook systems unaffected, suggesting a platform-specific implementation issue within the software's security model.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the software's failure to properly validate registry access permissions during modification operations. When Lenovo Nerve Center attempts to modify system registry keys, it does not adequately verify whether the executing user possesses sufficient privileges for such operations. This design flaw allows local users with minimal system access to manipulate critical registry entries that should only be modifiable by administrators. The vulnerability operates under CWE-276 which specifically addresses improper permissions and access control issues, making it a clear example of inadequate privilege management within system components.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations deploying Lenovo Nerve Center on desktop systems. An attacker with local user access can exploit this weakness to modify registry entries that control system behavior, potentially enabling persistence mechanisms, disabling security features, or establishing backdoors. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as registry modifications can affect system integrity, security policies, and overall system stability. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system components or manipulate system configurations in ways that compromise security posture.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is relatively limited but highly impactful, requiring only local system access to exploit. This makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users may have local accounts but should not possess administrative privileges. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting Windows registry manipulation as a method for gaining elevated privileges. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader attack surface management and privilege escalation mitigation strategies.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3747 should focus on immediate patching of affected Lenovo Nerve Center installations on Windows 10 desktop systems. System administrators should also implement enhanced monitoring of registry modifications, particularly around keys that control system security features. The principle of least privilege should be enforced more rigorously, ensuring that local users cannot perform registry operations that require administrative permissions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized registry modifications and establish regular security audits of system configurations to detect any unauthorized changes that might indicate exploitation attempts.