CVE-2018-6016 in Network Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
Unquoted Windows search path vulnerability in the srvInventoryWebServer service in 10-Strike Network Monitor 5.4 allows local users to gain privileges via a malicious artefact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6016 represents a critical security flaw in the 10-Strike Network Monitor 5.4 software, specifically within the srvInventoryWebServer service component. This issue manifests as an unquoted Windows search path vulnerability that creates a significant attack surface for local privilege escalation. The flaw occurs when the Windows operating system searches for executables in a specific order and fails to properly quote directory paths, allowing an attacker to place malicious binaries in locations that are searched before the intended legitimate executables. The vulnerability resides in the service's handling of system paths during execution, where the absence of proper quotation marks in the search path allows for path injection attacks. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-177, which specifically addresses the improper handling of unquoted search paths in Windows environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a local attacker to place a malicious executable in a directory that appears earlier in the Windows search path than the legitimate service binaries. When the srvInventoryWebServer service executes, it follows the standard Windows executable search order where unquoted paths are interpreted as containing spaces, causing the system to search in parent directories. This behavior enables attackers to place malicious binaries in directories like C:\Program Files\10-Strike\Network Monitor\ or other parent directories that are searched before the intended service locations. The attack vector leverages the principle of least privilege being violated, as the service runs with elevated privileges, making successful exploitation result in privilege escalation. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of path traversal and privilege escalation techniques that align with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through service manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6016 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. A successful exploitation allows a local attacker to execute code with the privileges of the service account, which typically has elevated permissions. The vulnerability affects systems running 10-Strike Network Monitor 5.4 where the srvInventoryWebServer service is installed and running with administrative privileges. Organizations using this software are at risk of unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation through the elevated privileges gained via this vulnerability. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where network monitoring tools often run with high privileges to perform their functions, creating a significant attack surface that can be leveraged for lateral movement and persistence. Security teams must understand that this vulnerability can be exploited by attackers who gain initial access through other means, such as phishing or credential theft, and then use this privilege escalation technique to maintain persistent access to the compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6016 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a version that addresses the unquoted search path issue in the srvInventoryWebServer service. Organizations should also implement proper path quoting for all service installations and ensure that service paths are properly quoted during installation processes. System administrators should conduct thorough audits of service configurations to identify other potential unquoted path vulnerabilities throughout the system. The implementation of least privilege principles should be enforced by ensuring that services run with the minimum required privileges rather than administrative rights. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious file creation in service directories and unusual execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit local access to systems running vulnerable software. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar path-related vulnerabilities in other installed software and system components. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and using tools like Windows Defender Application Control to prevent execution of unauthorized binaries in critical system directories. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing network monitoring operations while maintaining the security posture against this specific privilege escalation vector.