CVE-2021-28119 in Twinkle Tray
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2021
Twinkle Tray (aka twinkle-tray) through 1.13.3 allows remote command execution. A remote attacker may send a crafted IPC message to the exposed vulnerable ipcRenderer IPC interface, which invokes the dangerous openExternal API.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2021
Twinkle Tray represents a desktop application designed to provide system tray functionality for users, with version 1.13.3 and earlier containing a critical remote command execution vulnerability that exposes users to significant security risks. This vulnerability exists within the application's inter-process communication mechanism, specifically through the ipcRenderer IPC interface that is improperly exposed to remote attackers. The flaw allows an attacker to send malicious IPC messages that can trigger the dangerous openExternal API, which is typically designed to open external applications or URLs but becomes weaponized when invoked through unauthenticated remote channels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the application's IPC architecture, where the ipcRenderer interface lacks adequate authentication mechanisms to verify the legitimacy of incoming messages. When a remote attacker sends a crafted IPC message, the application processes this message through the vulnerable interface and subsequently invokes the openExternal API without proper validation. This API call can execute arbitrary commands on the target system, effectively providing attackers with complete control over the affected machine. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution flaw that operates at the application layer, bypassing traditional network-level security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-28119 is severe and far-reaching, as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems without requiring local access or user interaction. This vulnerability can be exploited from any location with network connectivity to the affected application, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such applications may be exposed to untrusted networks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install malware, exfiltrate sensitive data, establish persistence mechanisms, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects all versions of Twinkle Tray up to and including 1.13.3, representing a significant security gap that could lead to complete system compromise.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through version updates to Twinkle Tray 1.13.4 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the IPC access control issues. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the application's IPC interfaces and consider disabling unnecessary IPC functionality when possible. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically remote execution capabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and authentication mechanisms for all IPC interfaces, along with regular security assessments of desktop applications, can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future software releases.