CVE-2019-17100 in Total Security 2020
Summary
by MITRE
An Untrusted Search Path vulnerability in bdserviceshost.exe as used in Bitdefender Total Security 2020 allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code. This issue does not affect: Bitdefender Total Security versions prior to 24.0.12.69.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-17100 represents a critical untrusted search path weakness within the bdserviceshost.exe component of Bitdefender Total Security 2020. This flaw falls under the CWE-427 category of Untrusted Search Path, where the software searches for files in directories that could be manipulated by attackers. The vulnerability specifically affects the bdserviceshost.exe process which serves as a critical service host for Bitdefender's security operations. When this executable searches for required libraries or components without proper validation of the search path, it creates an opportunity for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. The issue is particularly concerning because it targets a core security component that operates with elevated privileges, potentially allowing attackers to bypass the security protections that Bitdefender is designed to provide.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker places malicious code in directories that bdserviceshost.exe searches through during normal operation. Since the executable does not properly validate or sanitize the search path, it will load and execute any malicious file found in these directories before checking the legitimate system paths. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes the exploitation of legitimate credentials and system processes to execute malicious code. The vulnerability specifically affects Bitdefender Total Security versions 24.0.12.69 and later, indicating that prior versions were not susceptible to this particular attack vector. This suggests that the issue was introduced in a specific code update or service implementation that modified how the bdserviceshost.exe process handles file resolution and path searching.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of systems running affected Bitdefender versions. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains the ability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the bdserviceshost.exe process, which typically runs with elevated permissions. This could enable attackers to install persistent backdoors, modify security configurations, or even escalate to full system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Bitdefender is widely deployed, as a single compromised endpoint could provide attackers with a foothold to move laterally through the network. The fact that this issue does not affect versions prior to 24.0.12.69 indicates that Bitdefender addressed the problem in a specific update, suggesting that organizations running older versions are not at risk from this particular attack vector.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Bitdefender Total Security version 24.0.12.69 or later to remediate this vulnerability. System administrators should also implement monitoring for suspicious file activity in directories that the bdserviceshost.exe process might search through, particularly those that are writable by non-privileged users. Network segmentation and privilege separation measures should be reinforced to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly for security software that operates with elevated privileges. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized code execution, which would provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities in the future. This incident highlights the critical need for security vendors to maintain rigorous code review processes and for users to stay current with security updates to protect against emerging threats.