CVE-2018-15885 in FindMe
Summary
by MITRE
Ovation FindMe 1.4-1083-1 is intended to support transmission of network traffic from covert video recorders but does not properly disrupt binary analysis for discovering the product's capabilities or purpose. This makes it easier for adversaries to detect the covert operation. Specifically, the product uses a compression technique to prevent the identification of certain libraries in the software by obfuscation. The software relies on a TLS callback and an additional executable file to enable these libraries and their access to certain websites. The unpacked software can be exploited by several different types of documented techniques.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2020
CVE-2018-15885 represents a significant security flaw in Ovation FindMe version 1.4-1083-1, a software tool designed for covert video recording operations. This vulnerability stems from inadequate binary analysis disruption mechanisms that fail to properly obscure the product's true capabilities and operational purpose. The flaw creates a critical weakness in the software's defensive posture against reverse engineering and threat detection activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which addresses improper handling of exception conditions, and CWE-310, concerning cryptographic issues, as the software's obfuscation techniques are insufficient to prevent analysis. The system employs compression methods to hide library identification, but these techniques prove inadequate against sophisticated analysis approaches that can still detect the underlying software components and their intended functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's reliance on TLS (Thread Local Storage) callbacks combined with auxiliary executable files to dynamically load and activate specific libraries. This dynamic loading mechanism creates multiple entry points and execution paths that adversaries can exploit to understand the software's operational structure. The unpacked software presents multiple attack vectors through documented exploitation techniques that leverage the software's inherent design flaws. The TLS callback mechanism, while intended to provide legitimate runtime functionality, becomes a weakness when adversaries can identify and manipulate these callbacks to access hidden libraries and their associated network capabilities. This architectural approach creates a fundamental security gap that violates the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple detection risks to encompass broader implications for covert operations security. Adversaries can exploit this weakness to identify the software's true purpose and operational capabilities, potentially exposing sensitive surveillance activities and compromising operational security. The vulnerability creates a situation where the software's intended covert nature is undermined by its own obfuscation techniques, which fail to provide adequate protection against determined analysis efforts. This weakness affects the software's ability to maintain operational security and can lead to mission compromise when adversaries successfully identify and exploit the software's capabilities. The vulnerability creates a direct pathway for threat actors to understand network communication patterns and access control mechanisms, potentially enabling them to target the software's operational environment more effectively.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-15885 require comprehensive approaches addressing both the software's design flaws and operational security considerations. Organizations should implement enhanced binary analysis protection mechanisms that go beyond simple compression techniques to provide robust obfuscation and anti-analysis capabilities. The solution involves implementing proper access control measures and ensuring that TLS callbacks and auxiliary executables are properly secured against unauthorized manipulation. Security professionals should consider implementing additional layers of protection such as code integrity checking, runtime application control, and network monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The mitigation approach should also include regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify potential exploitation vectors. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1059.007, this vulnerability enables adversaries to use dynamic-link libraries for execution, which directly relates to the software's improper library loading mechanisms that this vulnerability exploits. Organizations must also implement proper software supply chain security measures to prevent unauthorized modifications and ensure that all software components maintain their intended security properties throughout their operational lifecycle.