CVE-2019-12091 in Client Service
Summary
by MITRE
The Netskope client service, v57 before 57.2.0.219 and v60 before 60.2.0.214, running with NT\SYSTEM privilege, accepts network connections from localhost. The connection handling function in this service suffers from command injection vulnerability. Local users can use this vulnerability to execute code with NT\SYSTEM privilege.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2023
The Netskope client service represents a critical security vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-12091, affecting versions prior to specific patched releases. This vulnerability exists within the service's network handling mechanisms and operates with elevated NT\SYSTEM privileges, creating a severe attack surface. The service accepts incoming connections from localhost, establishing a potential entry point for malicious actors who can exploit the underlying command injection flaw. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the service's privileged execution context, allowing successful exploitation to result in complete system compromise with the highest available privileges.
The technical flaw manifests in the connection handling function of the Netskope client service, where inadequate input validation and sanitization permits malicious command injection attacks. When the service processes network connections from localhost, it fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into system commands. This command injection vulnerability stems from improper handling of network data that flows through the service's processing pipeline, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject arbitrary commands that execute with the elevated privileges of the NT\SYSTEM account. The flaw aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection vulnerabilities that can lead to arbitrary code execution within privileged contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a persistent and powerful foothold within the compromised system. Since the service operates with NT\SYSTEM privileges, successful exploitation grants complete control over the target machine, including access to sensitive data, ability to modify system configurations, and potential for lateral movement within network environments. Local users who can establish connections to the vulnerable service can leverage this privilege escalation to execute malicious code, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system disruption, or use as a pivot point for attacking other networked systems. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which addresses local privilege escalation through command injection and service manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-12091 primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided patches that address the command injection flaw in the Netskope client service. Organizations should immediately upgrade to version 57.2.0.219 or later for v57 releases, and version 60.2.0.214 or later for v60 releases. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict localhost access to the Netskope service where possible, reducing the attack surface. System administrators should also monitor for unauthorized access attempts and implement security controls to prevent local users from establishing connections to the vulnerable service. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and privilege separation in security-critical services, particularly those operating with elevated system privileges. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other services running with high privileges, as the attack surface for such vulnerabilities remains significant in enterprise environments.