CVE-2021-42098 in Remote Desktop Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 10/18/2021
An incomplete permission check on entries in Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager before 2021.2.16 allows attackers to bypass permissions via batch custom PowerShell.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-42098 represents a critical authorization flaw within Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager software prior to version 2021.2.16. This issue stems from an incomplete permission check mechanism that fails to properly validate user privileges when processing entries within the remote desktop management environment. The vulnerability specifically affects the software's handling of batch custom PowerShell operations, creating a pathway for unauthorized access that bypasses established security controls.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves a missing validation step in the permission checking logic that governs how custom PowerShell scripts are executed within the remote desktop manager framework. When administrators configure batch operations using custom PowerShell commands, the system should verify that the executing user possesses appropriate permissions to perform these actions on the targeted resources. However, the incomplete check allows attackers to craft malicious PowerShell scripts that can execute with elevated privileges or access restricted systems without proper authorization. This weakness aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control vulnerabilities where insufficient permission validation leads to unauthorized system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential lateral movement and data exfiltration within network environments. Attackers exploiting this flaw can execute arbitrary PowerShell commands against remote systems that would normally be restricted to authorized personnel only. This capability enables malicious actors to perform reconnaissance activities, deploy additional malware, or access sensitive information stored within the managed remote desktop environment. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager for enterprise remote access management, as it undermines the security boundaries designed to protect sensitive infrastructure.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the vendor-provided patch released in version 2021.2.16. The update addresses the permission validation logic to ensure proper authentication checks occur before executing batch PowerShell operations. Security teams should also implement monitoring for suspicious PowerShell execution patterns and review access controls to minimize potential impact from compromised accounts. Additional mitigations include restricting PowerShell execution permissions within the remote desktop manager configuration and implementing network segmentation to limit lateral movement capabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation in remote management systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for PowerShell execution, emphasizing the need for robust input validation and privilege enforcement in enterprise security solutions.