CVE-2021-21078 in Creative Cloud Desktop Application
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2021
Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application version 5.3 (and earlier) is affected by an Unquoted Service Path vulnerability in CCXProcess that could allow an attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution in the process of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-21078 affects Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application version 5.3 and earlier, specifically targeting the CCXProcess service component. This represents a critical security flaw that stems from improper service path configuration, creating an exploitable condition that adversaries can leverage for privilege escalation and code execution. The vulnerability resides within the Windows service architecture where the service path is not properly quoted, allowing for path manipulation attacks.
The technical flaw manifests through an unquoted service path vulnerability classified under CWE-428, where the service executable path contains spaces but lacks proper quotation marks. When Windows attempts to resolve the service path, it searches through the directory structure in a predictable manner, potentially allowing an attacker to place a malicious executable at a location in the path that gets executed before the legitimate service. The CCXProcess service, which runs with the privileges of the currently logged-in user, becomes a vector for arbitrary code execution when exploited. This vulnerability specifically affects the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application's service management component and requires user interaction to successfully exploit the condition.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it provides attackers with a mechanism to escalate privileges within the context of the current user session. Since the service runs with user-level privileges rather than system-level privileges, successful exploitation allows attackers to execute malicious code with the permissions of the logged-in user, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further attack escalation. The requirement for user interaction means that social engineering or phishing techniques may be necessary to achieve initial compromise, but once executed, the vulnerability provides a persistent foothold within the user's session. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and can be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-21078 should focus on immediate patching of the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application to version 5.4 or later, which addresses the unquoted service path vulnerability. System administrators should also implement service path hardening measures by ensuring all service paths are properly quoted and validated. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for suspicious service execution patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper service configuration management and highlights the need for regular security assessments of installed applications to identify and remediate similar path traversal issues. Organizations should also consider implementing least privilege principles and regular security updates to prevent exploitation of similar unquoted service path vulnerabilities in other software components.