CVE-2018-0664 in NoMachine App
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in NoMachine App for Android 5.0.63 and earlier allows attackers to alter environment variables via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0664 affects the NoMachine App for Android version 5.0.63 and earlier, presenting a significant security risk through improper handling of environment variables. This flaw enables attackers to manipulate critical system parameters that influence application behavior and potentially system operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the mobile application's environment variable processing logic, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject or modify environment variables to execute unauthorized operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-74, which describes improper neutralization of special elements in output used by a downstream component, and CWE-15, which addresses external control of system state. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that attackers could exploit various entry points including but not limited to command injection, environment variable manipulation, or process control mechanisms. The Android application's failure to properly validate or sanitize environment variable inputs creates opportunities for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution within the application context.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability compromises the integrity of the NoMachine remote desktop application on Android devices, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems or data that the application is designed to protect. The ability to alter environment variables can lead to complete system compromise, especially when combined with other exploitation techniques. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to manipulate application behavior, redirect network connections, or execute malicious payloads that would otherwise be restricted by proper environment variable controls.
The attack surface extends beyond simple environment variable manipulation to include potential privilege escalation scenarios where attackers could elevate their access level within the application or underlying system. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where NoMachine is used for remote desktop services, as it could enable attackers to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to corporate networks or systems. The impact is further amplified when considering that NoMachine applications often provide access to sensitive enterprise resources, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in organizational contexts.
Recommended mitigations include immediate patching of the NoMachine Android application to version 5.0.64 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for environment variable handling. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect suspicious environment variable modifications and establish proper input validation controls. The remediation strategy should include comprehensive application security testing, particularly focusing on environment variable processing and input validation. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege controls and regular security assessments can help reduce the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future. Security teams should also consider implementing behavioral monitoring to detect anomalous environment variable changes that might indicate exploitation attempts, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering.