CVE-2021-32461 in Password Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 07/08/2021
Trend Micro Password Manager (Consumer) version 5.0.0.1217 and below is vulnerable to an Integer Truncation Privilege Escalation vulnerability which could allow a local attacker to trigger a buffer overflow and escalate privileges on affected installations. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-32461 affects Trend Micro Password Manager Consumer version 5.0.0.1217 and earlier releases, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that can be exploited by local attackers. This vulnerability resides within the password management software's handling of integer values during privilege escalation processes, creating a pathway for attackers to gain elevated system access. The flaw specifically manifests as an integer truncation issue that can lead to buffer overflow conditions when the application processes certain input parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of integer values within the application's privilege escalation mechanisms. When legitimate user processes attempt to escalate privileges, the software fails to properly validate or handle integer overflow conditions, leading to truncation of critical values that should remain intact for proper security checks. This truncation creates a scenario where buffer boundaries are exceeded, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration CWE-190 category, which specifically addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions that can lead to buffer overflows and other memory corruption issues.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems running affected versions of Trend Micro Password Manager, as it requires only local execution privileges to exploit. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain system-level access, potentially compromising all stored passwords and credentials managed by the application. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it does not require network access or complex exploitation techniques beyond achieving initial low-privileged code execution on the target system. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users may have legitimate access to systems but where privilege escalation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can enable attackers to bypass the password manager's intended security controls and access all stored credentials. System administrators and security professionals should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments, particularly in environments where the Trend Micro Password Manager is deployed. The vulnerability's exploitation process follows attack patterns consistent with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics, specifically targeting local privilege escalation techniques that leverage software vulnerabilities to gain elevated system access. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing additional monitoring controls to detect potential exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-32461 should include immediate deployment of the vendor-provided security patches and updates to the Trend Micro Password Manager software. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual privilege escalation activities and ensure that all systems running the vulnerable software are updated promptly. Additional security measures such as application whitelisting, privilege separation, and regular security assessments can help reduce the overall risk exposure. Organizations should also consider conducting vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems and ensure that proper access controls are in place to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The integer truncation flaw represents a classic example of how seemingly minor coding errors can create significant security risks, emphasizing the importance of proper input validation and integer handling in security-critical applications.