CVE-2019-9486 in HiDrive Desktop Client
Summary
by MITRE
STRATO HiDrive Desktop Client 5.0.1.0 for Windows suffers from a SYSTEM privilege escalation vulnerability through the HiDriveMaintenanceService service. This service establishes a NetNamedPipe endpoint that allows applications to connect and call publicly exposed methods. An attacker can inject and execute code by hijacking the insecure communications with the service. This vulnerability also affects Telekom MagentaCLOUD through 5.7.0.0 and 1&1 Online Storage through 6.1.0.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9486 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw affecting multiple cloud storage client applications from STRATO and related vendors. This issue manifests within the HiDrive Desktop Client version 5.0.1.0 for Windows operating systems where the HiDriveMaintenanceService service operates with SYSTEM privileges. The service exposes a NetNamedPipe endpoint that facilitates communication between the client application and its maintenance components, creating an attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain elevated system access. The vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the named pipe communication mechanism, allowing unauthorized code execution through service manipulation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through insecure communications with the HiDriveMaintenanceService, which operates under SYSTEM privileges and maintains a publicly accessible NetNamedPipe endpoint. Attackers can leverage this exposure to inject malicious code into the service process by hijacking the communication channel, effectively bypassing standard user permission boundaries. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software systems, and specifically manifests as an insecure communication channel that allows privilege escalation. The attack vector exploits the service's lack of proper authentication and authorization mechanisms for the named pipe endpoint, enabling local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate client application to affect multiple vendor implementations including Telekom MagentaCLOUD through version 5.7.0.0 and 1&1 Online Storage through version 6.1.0.0, indicating a widespread issue within the STRATO ecosystem. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute code with SYSTEM privileges, potentially enabling complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent access to affected systems. This privilege escalation capability makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it provides attackers with unrestricted access to the target system's resources, files, and processes. The impact is further amplified by the fact that these desktop clients typically run with elevated privileges and maintain persistent connections to cloud services, creating additional attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9486 require immediate action to address the insecure named pipe communications within affected client applications. Organizations should implement immediate patching procedures for all affected versions of STRATO HiDrive Desktop Client, Telekom MagentaCLOUD, and 1&1 Online Storage applications. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to named pipe endpoints and apply the principle of least privilege to service accounts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting T1068, which involves exploiting legitimate credentials and system services to gain elevated privileges. Additionally, monitoring for unusual named pipe connections and implementing application control measures can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected applications within their environment that may share similar communication patterns and security flaws.