CVE-2017-3756 in Active Protection System
Summary
by MITRE
A privilege escalation vulnerability was identified in Lenovo Active Protection System for ThinkPad systems versions earlier than 1.82.0.17. An attacker with local privileges could execute code with administrative privileges via an unquoted service path.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3756 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Lenovo's Active Protection System component for ThinkPad laptops. This vulnerability specifically affects systems running versions prior to 1.82.0.17 of the Active Protection System software, creating a significant security risk for enterprise and individual users alike. The flaw stems from improper handling of service paths within the system's installation and execution mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to exploit a fundamental Windows service configuration weakness.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper use of unquoted service paths, a well-documented security weakness that falls under CWE-16 - Configuration. When Windows services are configured with paths that contain spaces but lack proper quotation marks, the operating system attempts to execute files along the path from left to right, potentially allowing an attacker to place malicious executables in directories that are searched before the intended service location. In the case of Lenovo's Active Protection System, the service path configuration created an exploitable condition where an attacker could place a malicious binary in a directory that would be searched before the legitimate service executable, thereby gaining elevated privileges when the service launched.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold on affected systems. Once exploited, the malicious code executes with administrative privileges, enabling complete system compromise and potentially allowing lateral movement within network environments. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where ThinkPad laptops are commonly deployed, as it could enable attackers to establish persistent access points that are difficult to detect and remove. The attack vector requires only local access to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers who have already gained initial access through other means such as phishing attacks or physical access to the device.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by updating to Lenovo Active Protection System version 1.82.0.17 or later, which addresses the unquoted service path configuration issue. System administrators should also implement comprehensive service path auditing to identify and correct similar vulnerabilities across their Windows environments. The mitigation strategy should include regular security assessments of service configurations and adherence to secure coding practices that prevent unquoted service paths. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be categorized under T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, with potential for T1543 - Create or Modify System Process to maintain persistence. Additionally, this vulnerability aligns with the broader category of T1574 - Hijack Execution Flow, which encompasses techniques that manipulate the execution flow of legitimate software to execute malicious code. The security community should consider this vulnerability as part of a larger pattern of service path misconfigurations that continue to plague Windows environments, requiring ongoing vigilance and proactive security measures to prevent exploitation.