CVE-2020-15932 in Overwolf
Summary
by MITRE
Overwolf before 0.149.2.30 mishandles Symbolic Links during updates, causing elevation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-15932 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Overwolf software update mechanism. This issue affects versions prior to 0.149.2.30 and stems from improper handling of symbolic links during the update process. The flaw allows malicious actors to manipulate the update installation sequence and potentially gain elevated system privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the software's update infrastructure where symbolic link resolution occurs, creating a window of opportunity for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's failure to properly validate or sanitize symbolic link paths during update operations. When Overwolf processes updates, it creates or modifies symbolic links that point to critical system locations. The improper handling allows attackers to create malicious symbolic links that redirect update operations to arbitrary locations, potentially enabling the execution of arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This flaw operates under the broader category of improper privilege handling and can be classified under CWE-276 for incorrect permissions and CWE-782 for exposed vulnerable interface. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the modification of system files and processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and data exposure. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain administrative access to the target system, enabling them to install malware, modify system configurations, or exfiltrate sensitive information. The vulnerability affects systems where Overwolf is installed and running, particularly in enterprise environments where software updates are automated and may execute with elevated privileges. The risk is amplified when users have administrative rights or when the software update process runs with elevated permissions, as this creates multiple attack vectors for privilege escalation. Organizations using outdated versions of Overwolf face significant risk of exploitation, especially in environments where security controls are insufficient to prevent unauthorized modifications to system components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-15932 require immediate patching of affected Overwolf installations to version 0.149.2.30 or later. System administrators should implement comprehensive software inventory management to identify all affected systems and ensure timely deployment of security updates. Additional protective measures include implementing strict access controls for update processes, monitoring symbolic link creation and modification activities, and establishing network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized software during update processes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper symbolic link validation in software update mechanisms and reinforces the need for robust privilege management practices. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through anomaly detection systems that can identify unusual symbolic link operations or unauthorized privilege escalation activities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other software update processes and ensure comprehensive protection against privilege escalation attacks.