CVE-2019-5958 in Electronic Reception
Summary
by MITRE
Untrusted search path vulnerability in Electronic reception and examination of application for radio licenses Offline 1.0.9.0 and earlier allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5958 represents an untrusted search path issue within the Electronic reception and examination of application for radio licenses Offline version 1.0.9.0 and earlier. This flaw resides in the application's dynamic link library loading mechanism, where the software fails to properly validate or sanitize the search paths used to locate required DLL files during execution. The vulnerability stems from the application's insecure handling of library loading sequences, allowing malicious actors to place Trojan horse DLL files in directories that are searched before legitimate system locations.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-427, which specifically addresses Uncontrolled Search Path Elements, and aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1068 for Local Privilege Escalation through DLL injection. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to load dynamic link libraries without properly constraining the search paths, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code through carefully placed DLL files in the application's execution directory or other accessible locations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited to achieve privilege escalation, allowing attackers to execute code with elevated permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for broader system compromise. Attackers can exploit this weakness by placing malicious DLL files in the application's working directory or other locations that the application searches during runtime. When the vulnerable application executes, it loads the malicious DLL instead of the legitimate one, effectively granting the attacker code execution privileges. This can result in unauthorized access to system resources, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects systems running the specific offline radio license application version, creating a significant risk for organizations that rely on this software for regulatory compliance and licensing processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5958 should focus on implementing secure coding practices and system hardening measures. Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of the application where this vulnerability has been patched, as the vendor has likely addressed the insecure search path handling. System administrators should implement strict directory permissions and audit access controls to prevent unauthorized DLL placement in application directories. The principle of least privilege should be enforced, limiting write access to application directories and ensuring that only authorized personnel can modify system components. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting solutions and monitoring for suspicious DLL loading activities can provide additional layers of defense. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar insecure search path issues in other applications. The use of Windows Defender Application Control or similar technologies can help prevent execution of unauthorized DLLs, while network segmentation can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.