CVE-2021-30356 in Identity Agent
Summary
by MITRE • 04/23/2021
A denial of service vulnerability was reported in Check Point Identity Agent before R81.018.0000, which could allow low privileged users to overwrite protected system files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-30356 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Check Point Identity Agent software versions prior to R81.018.0000. This vulnerability exposes a significant security weakness that allows low privileged users to manipulate protected system files through unauthorized overwrite operations. The issue stems from inadequate file access controls and insufficient validation mechanisms within the identity agent's file handling processes, creating an avenue for privilege escalation and system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in the file system permission model where the Check Point Identity Agent fails to properly validate user permissions before allowing file modification operations. This weakness enables authenticated users with minimal privileges to target specific system files that should remain protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability manifests when the agent processes file operations without adequate verification of the requesting user's authorization level, potentially allowing malicious actors to overwrite critical system components that maintain the agent's operational integrity.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations relying on Check Point Identity Agent for authentication and access control management. The ability to overwrite protected system files can lead to complete system compromise, service disruption, and potential data loss. Attackers could leverage this flaw to disable security services, modify authentication mechanisms, or create persistent backdoors within the system. The impact extends beyond immediate denial of service to include potential privilege escalation that could allow attackers to gain administrative control over affected systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper file permissions, and represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068, privilege escalation, and T1499, disruption of services, as it enables attackers to disrupt system operations while simultaneously escalating their privileges. Organizations using affected versions should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of Check Point R81.018.0000 or later, which includes enhanced file permission validation and improved access control mechanisms. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of file access patterns can provide early detection of exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that no unauthorized file modifications have occurred.