CVE-2022-23511 in Amazon CloudWatch Agent
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
A privilege escalation issue exists within the Amazon CloudWatch Agent for Windows, software for collecting metrics and logs from Amazon EC2 instances and on-premises servers, in versions up to and including v1.247354. When users trigger a repair of the Agent, a pop-up window opens with SYSTEM permissions. Users with administrative access to affected hosts may use this to create a new command prompt as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. To trigger this issue, the third party must be able to access the affected host and elevate their privileges such that they’re able to trigger the agent repair process. They must also be able to install the tools required to trigger the issue. This issue does not affect the CloudWatch Agent for macOS or Linux. Agent users should upgrade to version 1.247355 of the CloudWatch Agent to address this issue. There is no recommended work around. Affected users must update the installed version of the CloudWatch Agent to address this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2022-23511 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Amazon CloudWatch Agent for Windows platforms. This security issue affects versions up to and including v1.247354 and specifically targets the Windows implementation of the CloudWatch Agent, which serves as a critical component for monitoring and logging metrics from Amazon EC2 instances and on-premises servers. The flaw stems from how the agent handles its repair functionality, creating a dangerous window of opportunity for attackers who have already gained administrative access to the target host. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it directly leverages the Windows privilege model by allowing unprivileged users to escalate their privileges to the SYSTEM level through a seemingly benign repair process that opens a pop-up window with elevated permissions.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the repair process of the CloudWatch Agent which, when triggered, opens a pop-up window that operates with SYSTEM permissions. This design flaw allows users who possess administrative access to the affected host to exploit this functionality and create a new command prompt running under the NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM context. The privilege escalation occurs through a direct manipulation of the agent's repair mechanism, bypassing normal Windows security controls that would typically prevent such elevation. The vulnerability requires a specific attack vector where the third party must first gain administrative access to the target host and then execute the necessary commands to trigger the agent repair process. This attack scenario aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, particularly those involving the use of legitimate system tools and processes to gain elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with SYSTEM-level access to the compromised host, potentially enabling them to execute arbitrary code, modify system files, access sensitive data, and establish persistent backdoors. The fact that this vulnerability is specific to Windows platforms while affecting both EC2 instances and on-premises servers creates a significant risk for organizations that maintain mixed environments. Organizations running the affected CloudWatch Agent versions face potential exposure to attackers who can leverage this vulnerability to gain complete control over their monitored systems. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread adoption of CloudWatch Agent across AWS environments, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to establish persistent access within cloud infrastructures. This issue directly relates to CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds writes and the improper handling of privilege escalation mechanisms in software applications. The lack of any recommended workaround further compounds the risk, as organizations cannot implement temporary fixes while awaiting the official patch, leaving them vulnerable during the upgrade process. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only basic administrative access and the ability to install necessary tools, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by attackers who have already gained foothold in the environment through other means. Organizations must immediately upgrade to version 1.247355 of the CloudWatch Agent to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability does not affect the macOS or Linux implementations of the agent, suggesting that the flaw is specific to the Windows implementation's handling of system-level processes and privilege elevation mechanisms.