CVE-2020-8326 in Drivers Management
Summary
by MITRE
An unquoted service path vulnerability was reported in Lenovo Drivers Management prior to version 2.7.1128.1046 that could allow an authenticated user to execute code with elevated privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-8326 represents a critical unquoted service path weakness in Lenovo Drivers Management software, affecting versions prior to 2.7.1128.1046. This flaw exists within the Windows service architecture where the service executable path contains spaces but lacks proper quotation marks around the path string. The vulnerability stems from the service configuration where Windows searches for executables in a specific order, and when a path contains spaces without proper quoting, the system interprets the path as multiple separate components, potentially allowing an attacker to place malicious executables in directories that are searched before the legitimate service executable.
This security weakness directly maps to CWE-159, which addresses improper handling of unquoted service paths, and falls under the broader category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities. The flaw operates on the principle that Windows services are typically configured with specific executable paths that are automatically resolved by the operating system. When these paths contain spaces but are not properly quoted, Windows performs a search operation through the PATH environment variable, which can include directories that an attacker has write access to, creating opportunities for privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it requires only authenticated user access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may have legitimate access to the system. An authenticated attacker with local access can manipulate the service path by placing a malicious executable in a directory that Windows searches before the legitimate service location. This creates a scenario where any user with access to the system can potentially execute code with the privileges of the service account, which often runs with elevated permissions. The vulnerability essentially allows for a privilege escalation attack that can potentially lead to complete system compromise, as the service may be configured to run with SYSTEM privileges.
The attack vector leverages the Windows service management system and follows patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting service configuration weaknesses. The exploitation process typically involves identifying the vulnerable service, determining the service path structure, creating a malicious executable in a directory that will be searched before the legitimate path, and then triggering the service to execute the malicious code. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration issues in service management can create significant security risks, particularly when services are configured to run with elevated privileges. Organizations should implement proper service path quoting during software installation and regularly audit service configurations to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited. The remediation requires updating to Lenovo Drivers Management version 2.7.1128.1046 or later, which properly quotes service paths to prevent the exploitation vector.