CVE-2018-10716 in Security Guard
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Shanghai 2345 Security Guard 3.7.0. 2345MPCSafe.exe, 2345SafeTray.exe, and 2345Speedup.exe allow local users to bypass intended process protections, and consequently terminate processes, because WM_CLOSE is not properly considered.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2020
This vulnerability exists within the Shanghai 2345 Security Guard 3.7.0 suite, specifically affecting the 2345MPCSafe.exe, 2345SafeTray.exe, and 2345Speedup.exe components. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the intended process protection mechanisms designed to safeguard system integrity and prevent unauthorized process termination. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of Windows message WM_CLOSE, which is a standard Windows API message used to request that a window close. When applications receive this message, they should typically validate the request and potentially prompt users before proceeding with termination. The security guard software fails to properly evaluate these WM_CLOSE messages, creating an exploitable condition that allows local attackers to bypass established protection controls.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-254, which addresses weaknesses in protection mechanisms that allow unauthorized access or modification of system resources. The flaw operates at the operating system interaction level where Windows message handling should enforce proper access controls and validation procedures. When local users send WM_CLOSE messages to protected processes, the software's insufficient validation logic permits these termination requests to proceed without proper authorization checks. This creates a privilege escalation scenario where unprivileged local users can manipulate the security software to terminate processes that should remain protected, effectively undermining the security posture of the entire system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple process termination capabilities. Attackers can leverage this weakness to disrupt security monitoring functions, terminate critical system processes, or interfere with legitimate security operations. The vulnerability enables a form of process injection and manipulation that can be exploited to bypass security controls, potentially allowing attackers to gain deeper system access or disable protective measures. This weakness particularly affects enterprise environments where security software is deployed to monitor and protect against malicious activities, as it provides a mechanism for local attackers to undermine these protective measures. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly to maintain access or disrupt system operations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper message validation and access control mechanisms within the security software. The software should enforce strict validation of WM_CLOSE messages and require explicit authorization before allowing process termination requests to proceed. System administrators should consider updating to patched versions of the security software, as this vulnerability represents a known flaw that vendors typically address through software updates. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual process termination activities and establish proper access controls to limit local user privileges. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation), as it provides a method for attackers to escalate privileges or manipulate system processes. Network segmentation and privilege separation measures should be implemented to reduce the potential impact of such local exploitation opportunities.