CVE-2021-44031 in KACE Desktop Authority
Summary
by MITRE • 12/22/2021
An issue was discovered in Quest KACE Desktop Authority before 11.2. /dacomponentui/profiles/profileitems/outlooksettings/Insertimage.aspx contains a vulnerability that could allow pre-authentication remote code execution. An attacker could upload a .ASP file to reside at /images/{GUID}/{filename}.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-44031 affects Quest KACE Desktop Authority versions prior to 11.2, representing a critical pre-authentication remote code execution flaw within the web application's file upload functionality. This vulnerability exists in the /dacomponentui/profiles/profileitems/outlooksettings/Insertimage.aspx component, which processes image uploads for Outlook settings configurations. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and directly execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The security breach occurs through a path traversal or file upload validation bypass that permits malicious ASP files to be uploaded to the server's image directory structure, specifically under the /images/{GUID}/{filename} path where GUID represents a globally unique identifier generated during the upload process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and inadequate file type checking within the Outlook settings profile management component. When users attempt to upload images for Outlook configuration profiles, the application fails to properly validate the file extensions or content of uploaded files, allowing attackers to upload malicious ASP web shell files that can execute arbitrary commands on the target system. This weakness aligns with CWE-434, which describes insecure upload of executable files, and represents a classic example of a file upload vulnerability that enables remote code execution. The pre-authentication nature of this flaw means that no valid credentials are required to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any attacker with network access to the affected system.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-44031 is severe and potentially devastating for organizations relying on Quest KACE Desktop Authority for endpoint management and configuration. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain full control over the affected server, enabling them to execute arbitrary commands, escalate privileges, access sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor access that may remain undetected for extended periods. Organizations using this software may experience unauthorized access to endpoint configurations, disruption of management services, and potential lateral movement within their infrastructure, as attackers can leverage the compromised system to target other network resources.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches and updates for Quest KACE Desktop Authority to address this vulnerability, ensuring that all systems are upgraded to version 11.2 or later. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to the affected system, disabling unnecessary web services and components, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious file upload activities. Security teams should also conduct thorough network scans to identify any unauthorized access or exploitation attempts that may have occurred prior to patching. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure file handling practices, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework's defense evasion techniques, where attackers can leverage such vulnerabilities to maintain persistent access and execute malicious code without detection. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs should be strengthened to prevent similar issues in other components of the system.