CVE-2018-0671 in INplc
Summary
by MITRE
Privilege escalation vulnerability in INplc-RT 3.08 and earlier allows an attacker with administrator rights to execute arbitrary code on the Windows system via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2020
The CVE-2018-0671 vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw affecting INplc-RT version 3.08 and earlier installations on Windows systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative component of the software, creating a pathway for attackers who already possess administrator credentials to escalate their privileges further and execute arbitrary code with elevated system access. The flaw exists within the software's privilege handling mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to bypass normal access controls and gain deeper system control than intended by the software design.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege validation and access control implementation within the INplc-RT administrative interface. Attackers with existing administrator rights can exploit this weakness to execute code at a higher privilege level than their current access permits. This represents a significant security flaw that violates the principle of least privilege, as the system fails to properly enforce access boundaries between different privilege levels. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be present in multiple execution paths within the administrative subsystem, making it particularly challenging to defend against through traditional perimeter security measures.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk for industrial control systems and environments where INplc-RT software is deployed. The ability to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential disruption of critical operations. Organizations using this software in manufacturing, process control, or other industrial environments face significant exposure, as attackers could potentially manipulate system processes, install backdoors, or cause system instability. The vulnerability essentially provides a gateway for attackers to move laterally within networks and establish persistent access to critical infrastructure components.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and represents a classic example of privilege escalation through inadequate access control mechanisms. The flaw demonstrates the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as it assumes initial compromise through administrative credentials and then provides additional attack vectors. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management programs specifically targeting this vulnerability and consider additional security controls such as application whitelisting, privilege separation, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such flaws. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically focusing on the use of software vulnerabilities to gain elevated system privileges and execute malicious code.