CVE-2018-13101 in KioskSimple
Summary
by MITRE
KioskSimpleService.exe in RedSwimmer KioskSimple 1.4.7.0 suffers from a privilege escalation vulnerability in the WCF endpoint. The exposed methods allow read and write access to the Windows registry and control of services. These methods may be abused to achieve privilege escalation via execution of attacker controlled binaries.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-13101 affects KioskSimpleService.exe within RedSwimmer KioskSimple version 1.4.7.0, presenting a critical privilege escalation risk through its Windows Communication Foundation WCF endpoint implementation. This service exposes functionality that should remain restricted to authorized system administrators but instead provides unrestricted access to Windows registry operations and service control capabilities. The flaw stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the WCF service configuration, allowing any authenticated user to invoke methods that manipulate system-level components. The exposed registry access enables attackers to modify critical system settings, registry keys, and configuration values that govern system behavior and security policies. Additionally, the service control functionality permits manipulation of running services, including the potential to stop, start, or modify service configurations that could lead to further system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern that aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software systems. Attackers can leverage the exposed WCF methods to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges by replacing legitimate binaries with malicious counterparts or by modifying service configurations to execute attacker-controlled payloads. This privilege escalation vector represents a significant operational risk as it allows attackers to move laterally within the system and potentially establish persistent access. The vulnerability particularly impacts environments where KioskSimple is deployed for public access kiosks, as these systems often run with elevated privileges to perform their intended functions while simultaneously exposing attack surfaces that should remain protected. The WCF endpoint configuration lacks proper authentication and authorization checks, creating an attack surface that violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate privilege escalation to encompass broader system compromise and potential data exfiltration. Once an attacker achieves elevated privileges through this vector, they can manipulate system configurations, install backdoors, modify security settings, or access sensitive data that would otherwise be protected. The service control capabilities enable attackers to disable security services or install malicious services that persist across system reboots. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes the use of privilege escalation techniques to gain higher-level system access. The exposed registry access allows for modifications to system policies, startup configurations, and security settings that can fundamentally alter the security posture of the affected system. Organizations using KioskSimple in production environments face significant risk of unauthorized access and system compromise, particularly when these systems are deployed in public-facing scenarios where unauthorized access is more likely.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-13101 should focus on immediate service hardening and access control implementation. Organizations must first secure the WCF endpoint by implementing proper authentication mechanisms, including strong user authentication and role-based access controls to restrict access to authorized administrators only. The registry access methods should be removed or restricted to specific trusted users with appropriate authorization levels. Service configuration should be reviewed to ensure that only necessary functionality is exposed and that all exposed methods implement proper validation and authorization checks. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate the KioskSimple service from general network access, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar access control vulnerabilities in other system components. The remediation process should include updating to the latest version of KioskSimple where available, implementing proper service account permissions, and establishing monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to the WCF endpoint. System administrators should also implement regular audits of registry modifications and service configurations to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain compliance with security standards and regulatory requirements.