CVE-2020-15495 in True Image
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2021
Acronis True Image 2019 update 1 through 2020 on macOS allows local privilege escalation due to an insecure XPC service configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-15495 affects Acronis True Image versions 2019 update 1 through 2020 on macOS systems, representing a critical local privilege escalation flaw rooted in insecure XPC service configuration. This issue enables attackers with local user access to elevate their privileges to root level, fundamentally compromising system security. The vulnerability stems from the improper configuration of XPC (Cross-Process Communication) services within the application's architecture, which are designed to facilitate secure communication between different processes on macOS. XPC services are integral to macOS security model as they provide a mechanism for inter-process communication while maintaining security boundaries between different privilege levels. The insecure configuration allows malicious code to exploit the service's lack of proper access controls and validation mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper handling of XPC service permissions and the absence of adequate sandboxing controls within the Acronis True Image application. When the application's XPC service receives incoming requests, it fails to properly validate the requesting process's privileges or identity, allowing a local attacker to craft malicious XPC messages that can be executed with elevated privileges. This configuration violates fundamental security principles by not implementing proper authentication and authorization checks before executing sensitive operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's ability to securely manage inter-process communication channels, creating an attack surface where unprivileged processes can manipulate the privileged XPC service to perform actions beyond their normal capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system control once exploited. An attacker with local login access can leverage this flaw to gain root privileges, enabling them to modify system files, install malicious software, disable security features, or extract sensitive data from the compromised system. The vulnerability affects all macOS versions where the affected Acronis True Image versions are installed, potentially impacting numerous enterprise and personal systems. This local privilege escalation vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users share systems, as it allows for unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data and infrastructure components. The attack vector requires only local system access, making it accessible to anyone with physical or remote access to the target machine.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-15495 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Acronis True Image versions, as the vendor has released updates to address the insecure XPC service configuration. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized XPC service activity and establish strict access controls for XPC services within their environments. The remediation process involves updating to the latest version of Acronis True Image that contains proper XPC service security hardening, including implementation of proper authentication mechanisms and privilege validation checks. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of other applications that utilize XPC services to identify similar configuration vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through insecure service configuration. Security teams should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit local user access where possible, reducing the attack surface for such exploits.