CVE-2018-18860 in SwitchVPN
Summary
by MITRE
A local privilege escalation vulnerability has been identified in the SwitchVPN client 2.1012.03 for macOS. Due to over-permissive configuration settings and a SUID binary, an attacker is able to execute arbitrary binaries as root.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18860 represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw within the SwitchVPN client version 2.1012.03 for macOS operating systems. This vulnerability stems from a combination of poor privilege management and insecure configuration practices that create an exploitable pathway for attackers to gain root-level access to affected systems. The issue specifically targets the macOS environment where the SwitchVPN client is installed, making it particularly concerning for organizations that deploy this particular VPN solution across their network infrastructure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of the SUID (Set User ID) bit on specific binary components within the SwitchVPN client installation. The SUID bit is a Unix permission that allows a program to execute with the privileges of the file owner rather than the user who invoked it, which is typically the root user for system-critical binaries. In this case, the SwitchVPN client contains a binary with elevated privileges that has been configured with overly permissive access controls, allowing non-privileged users to manipulate or execute the binary with root-level permissions. This represents a classic security misconfiguration pattern that violates fundamental principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected macOS systems. Once exploited, an attacker can execute arbitrary code with root privileges, enabling them to modify system files, install persistent backdoors, access all user data, and potentially establish lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no network connectivity for exploitation, making it a local attack vector that can be leveraged from within the system itself. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation category with specific relevance to techniques such as SUID binary exploitation and privilege escalation through insecure configurations.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper file permissions, and CWE-732, which covers inadequate privilege management. The issue demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration errors can result in catastrophic security implications, as the over-permissive settings on the SUID binary create an attack surface that bypasses normal user access controls. Organizations utilizing SwitchVPN client version 2.1012.03 should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the software, reviewing and correcting the SUID bit permissions on affected binaries, and monitoring system logs for suspicious activity. The recommended remediation approach involves either patching the software to address the configuration issue or manually correcting the permissions on the affected binaries to remove the SUID bit where it is not strictly necessary for legitimate functionality. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring and privilege separation to reduce the impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future.