CVE-2019-3745 in Encryption Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
The vulnerability is limited to the installers of Dell Encryption Enterprise versions prior to 10.4.0 and Dell Endpoint Security Suite Enterprise versions prior to 2.4.0. This issue is exploitable only during the installation of the product by an administrator. A local authenticated low privileged user potentially could exploit this vulnerability by staging a malicious DLL in the search path of the installer prior to its execution by a local administrator. This would cause loading of the malicious DLL, which would allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of an administrator.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2024
This vulnerability affects Dell Encryption Enterprise and Dell Endpoint Security Suite Enterprise products, specifically targeting versions prior to 10.4.0 and 2.4.0 respectively. The security flaw represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability that exploits the installer execution process, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where administrative privileges are required for software deployment. The vulnerability is classified as a DLL side-loading issue that allows attackers to manipulate the installation process through malicious code injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insecure search path handling during installer execution. When administrators run the installation process, the system searches through a predefined list of directories to locate required dynamic link libraries. An attacker with local access and low privileges can place a malicious DLL file in one of these search paths before the legitimate installer executes, causing the system to load and execute the attacker-controlled code. This technique aligns with CWE-426, which describes the insecure use of system search paths for loading libraries. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a path traversal and code injection flaw that bypasses normal security controls during the installation phase.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for enterprise security environments where software deployment typically requires administrative privileges. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges without needing to compromise administrative accounts directly. This creates a substantial risk for organizations that follow standard security practices, as the vulnerability can be exploited through legitimate installation processes. The attack vector requires only local access and low privilege level, making it particularly concerning for environments where user access controls may not be strictly enforced. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers the exploitation of local privilege escalation mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate version upgrades to the patched releases of both Dell Encryption Enterprise and Dell Endpoint Security Suite Enterprise. Organizations should also implement strict access controls and monitoring around installation processes, particularly in environments where multiple users have local access to systems. The recommended approach includes disabling unnecessary search paths, implementing application whitelisting policies, and ensuring that only authorized administrators can execute installation processes. Additionally, security teams should monitor for unauthorized DLL files in installation directories and establish procedures to validate the integrity of installation packages before execution. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper handling of system search paths during software installation processes, particularly in enterprise security products where the attack surface is expanded by legitimate administrative functionality.