CVE-2022-0883 in License Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 05/18/2022
SLM has an issue with Windows Unquoted/Trusted Service Paths Security Issue. All installations version 9.x.x prior to 9.20.1 should be patched.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0883 represents a critical security flaw in SLM software versions 9.x.x prior to 9.20.1, specifically related to Windows unquoted service paths. This issue falls under the broader category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities and is classified as a Windows service path misconfiguration problem. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of service installation paths that do not utilize proper quotation marks around paths containing spaces, creating exploitable conditions for malicious actors to gain elevated privileges.
The technical flaw manifests when Windows services are installed with unquoted paths that contain spaces, allowing attackers to place malicious executables in directories that Windows searches before the legitimate service path. This occurs because Windows follows a specific search order when resolving service paths, and unquoted paths can be exploited by placing malicious binaries in parent directories. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-428, which addresses the improper resolution of a path that contains a space, and also connects to CWE-276, concerning improper privileges on resources. When SLM installs services with unquoted paths, it creates an attack surface where adversaries can execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the target environment. Once exploited, the malicious service can maintain access across system reboots, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments. The vulnerability affects all versions 9.x.x of SLM software prior to 9.20.1, indicating that organizations running these older versions face significant risk. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1543.003 (Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service), enabling adversaries to establish persistence and execute malicious payloads with system-level privileges.
Organizations should immediately implement the patch released in SLM version 9.20.1 to address this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy involves verifying all service installations for proper path quoting and ensuring that service paths containing spaces are enclosed in quotation marks. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of installed services to identify any remaining unquoted paths and remediate them accordingly. Additionally, implementing strict service installation policies and conducting regular security assessments can prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper service path management and highlights the need for regular security updates to maintain system integrity. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and privilege monitoring to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in their environments.