CVE-2018-15976 in Technical Communications Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Technical Communications Suite versions 1.0.5.1 and below have an insecure library loading (dll hijacking) vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15976 affects Adobe Technical Communications Suite version 1.0.5.1 and earlier releases, presenting a critical insecure library loading flaw that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This vulnerability manifests through a dll hijacking mechanism that exploits the application's improper handling of dynamic link library resolution processes. The technical implementation fails to properly validate or restrict the search paths used when loading shared libraries, creating an opportunity for attackers to place malicious dll files in locations where the application will inadvertently execute them during normal operation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass full privilege escalation capabilities, allowing attackers to gain administrative or system-level access to affected systems. This occurs because the application loads libraries from predictable locations without proper validation of their authenticity or integrity, enabling attackers to substitute legitimate libraries with malicious counterparts that execute code with the privileges of the running process. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's dynamic loading behavior and exploits the Windows library search order mechanism where applications first check the current working directory before examining system directories, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to place malicious libraries in the application's execution path.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under CWE-427 Uncontrolled Search Path Element, which specifically addresses the dangerous practice of allowing applications to load libraries from directories that can be manipulated by unprivileged users. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1055 Process Injection, as exploitation involves injecting malicious code through legitimate system processes. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, since successful exploitation results in elevated system privileges. The risk assessment indicates this vulnerability represents a high-severity threat to enterprise environments where Adobe Technical Communications Suite is deployed, particularly in scenarios where users may inadvertently execute malicious code through social engineering or other attack vectors that lead to the application being launched.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest available version of Adobe Technical Communications Suite, implementing application control policies to restrict library loading from non-approved directories, and conducting thorough security assessments of affected systems. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring controls to detect suspicious library loading activities and ensure that the application runs with the minimum required privileges. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper library loading practices and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can result in significant security consequences, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple applications may be vulnerable to similar attacks through the same exploitation vectors.