CVE-2018-0540 in ViX
Summary
by MITRE
Untrusted search path vulnerability in ViX version 2.21.148.0 allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0540 represents a critical untrusted search path issue within ViX version 2.21.148.0 that creates a significant attack surface for privilege escalation. This flaw falls under the CWE-428 category of Untrusted Search Path, where the software application fails to properly validate or sanitize the directories from which it loads dynamic link libraries. The vulnerability specifically affects the ViX software component that handles virtualization operations, creating a dangerous condition where malicious actors can place specially crafted DLL files in directories that are searched before legitimate system locations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a Trojan horse DLL attack vector where an attacker places a malicious dynamic link library in an unspecified directory that the vulnerable application searches during execution. When the ViX application attempts to load required libraries, it inadvertently loads the attacker-controlled DLL instead of the legitimate system components. This behavior directly violates the principle of least privilege and enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted application, potentially escalating to SYSTEM level access depending on the application's execution context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the Windows DLL search order mechanism, which historically has been a common attack vector for privilege escalation exploits.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability can result in complete system compromise when exploited by malicious actors. The attack requires minimal privileges to execute successfully, as the malicious DLL can be placed in directories that are accessible to regular users. Once executed, the malicious code can perform actions such as credential harvesting, lateral movement, or establishing persistent backdoors within the victim environment. The vulnerability affects organizations that deploy ViX software for virtualization management, potentially exposing their entire infrastructure to unauthorized access. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as a high-priority threat due to its potential for privilege escalation and the relative ease of exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0540 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary recommendation is to update to the latest version of ViX software where the vulnerability has been patched, as vendors typically address such issues through proper library loading mechanisms and secure search path implementations. Organizations should implement strict directory permissions and audit access controls to prevent unauthorized DLL placement in application search paths. Additionally, security professionals should employ application whitelisting solutions such as Windows Defender Application Control or similar technologies to restrict which DLLs can be loaded by the vulnerable application. The use of security tools like Sysinternals Process Monitor can help identify suspicious DLL loading activities, while network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper library loading mechanisms as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques and the importance of mitigating untrusted search path vulnerabilities to prevent unauthorized code execution.