CVE-2018-10739 in Security Guard
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Shanghai 2345 Security Guard 3.7.0. 2345MPCSafe.exe allows local users to bypass intended process protections, and consequently terminate process, because WM_SYSCOMMAND is not properly considered.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10739 resides within the Shanghai 2345 Security Guard 3.7.0 software suite, specifically affecting the 2345MPCSafe.exe component. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the software's process protection mechanisms that can be exploited by local attackers to undermine the intended security controls. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of system commands within the Windows messaging framework, creating an avenue for unauthorized process manipulation.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of WM_SYSCOMMAND messages within the 2345MPCSafe.exe process. This Windows message is typically used to handle system commands such as window closing, minimizing, and other system-level operations. The security guard software fails to adequately validate or filter these system commands, allowing local users to send specially crafted WM_SYSCOMMAND messages that can bypass the normal process protection mechanisms. This flaw directly relates to CWE-254, which addresses security weaknesses in process protection mechanisms, and more specifically to CWE-119, concerning weaknesses in memory management that can lead to privilege escalation or process manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables local users to terminate processes that should remain protected by the security software. This capability undermines the fundamental security posture of the 2345 Security Guard, potentially allowing attackers to disable critical security functions or terminate legitimate processes. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the local user level, meaning that any user with access to the system can exploit this weakness without requiring elevated privileges or network access. Attackers could leverage this to disrupt security monitoring, terminate security processes, or create conditions that facilitate further attacks on the system.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and process manipulation. The technique can be categorized under T1055 for process injection and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as local users can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to protected processes. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack chain where initial access leads to process manipulation and potential system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in security software itself creates a particularly concerning scenario where the protective mechanisms become the vector for attack.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Shanghai 2345, restricting local user privileges where possible, and monitoring for unusual process termination events. Network segmentation and privilege management controls should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and message handling in security software, highlighting that even protective tools can contain exploitable weaknesses. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for WM_SYSCOMMAND message handling within security applications to detect potential exploitation attempts.