CVE-2018-12441 in Utility Engine
Summary
by MITRE
The CorsairService Service in Corsair Utility Engine is installed with insecure default permissions, which allows unprivileged local users to execute arbitrary commands via modification of the CorsairService BINARY_PATH_NAME, leading to complete control of the affected system. The issue exists due to the Windows "Everyone" group being granted SERVICE_ALL_ACCESS permissions to the CorsairService Service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12441 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Corsair Utility Engine software ecosystem. This issue resides in the CorsairService component that operates as a Windows service, fundamentally compromising system security through improper access control implementation. The vulnerability stems from the service's installation configuration where the Windows "Everyone" group is granted SERVICE_ALL_ACCESS permissions, creating an exploitable entry point for local attackers seeking elevated system privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the service's binary path name registry entry, a technique that falls under the category of service binary path modification attacks. This approach directly leverages the insecure default permissions to allow any local user to modify the service executable path, enabling them to replace or redirect the legitimate service binary with malicious code. The flaw essentially provides attackers with complete control over the service execution environment, allowing arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the service account, typically SYSTEM level access on Windows systems. This type of vulnerability is classified as a privilege escalation issue under CWE-264 and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through service manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to achieve persistent system compromise and potentially escalate privileges to the highest available levels within the Windows environment. Once exploited, attackers can maintain access through the compromised service, making detection more challenging while gaining unrestricted access to system resources, network communications, and potentially sensitive data stored on the affected machine. The vulnerability affects systems running the Corsair Utility Engine software and demonstrates a fundamental failure in secure service configuration practices, where default installations do not follow the principle of least privilege. This weakness allows local users to perform actions that should be restricted to administrators or system-level processes, creating a significant security risk for any environment where the software is deployed without proper security hardening.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper access control measures including removal of unnecessary permissions from the service configuration, specifically revoking SERVICE_ALL_ACCESS permissions from the "Everyone" group. System administrators should ensure that the CorsairService is configured with minimal required permissions and that the service binary path is protected against modification by unauthorized users. The recommended approach involves using Windows service configuration tools to properly set service permissions, implementing application whitelisting policies, and conducting regular security audits of installed services to identify and remediate similar permission misconfigurations. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling unnecessary services and implementing automated monitoring for unauthorized service modifications to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a prime example of why proper service hardening and adherence to security best practices are essential for maintaining system integrity and preventing unauthorized access to critical system components.