CVE-2022-23922 in WIN-911
Summary
by MITRE • 02/24/2022
WIN-911 2021 R1 and R2 are vulnerable to a permissions misconfiguration that may allow an attacker to locally write files to the Program Announcer directory and elevate permissions whenever the program is executed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-23922 affects WIN-911 2021 R1 and R2 systems, representing a critical permissions misconfiguration that creates a persistent attack vector for local privilege escalation. This flaw resides within the Program Announcer directory, which serves as a critical component in the system's operational framework. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls that permit unauthorized local users to write files to this sensitive directory structure, fundamentally compromising the system's integrity and security posture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a fundamental flaw in the application's permission model where the Program Announcer directory lacks proper access control restrictions. When an attacker successfully places malicious files within this directory, the system's execution process automatically incorporates these files during normal operation, creating a path for privilege escalation. This misconfiguration aligns with CWE-276, which categorizes improper file permissions as a significant security weakness that enables unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability operates at the file system level, where the application's execution context does not properly validate file sources or implement adequate sandboxing mechanisms.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability transforms a local user account into a potential system compromise vector, allowing attackers to escalate privileges without requiring administrative credentials. The attack surface expands significantly since any user with local access can potentially exploit this weakness to gain elevated system privileges. The timing of exploitation is particularly concerning as it occurs during normal program execution, making detection more challenging and allowing persistent access to the compromised system. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes local privilege escalation through the exploitation of system-level weaknesses, and T1548.002, which covers abuse of system permissions for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper access controls for the Program Announcer directory and related system components. System administrators must immediately restrict write permissions to the Program Announcer directory, ensuring that only authorized system processes can modify its contents. The implementation of mandatory access controls and file integrity monitoring solutions can provide additional layers of protection against unauthorized modifications. Regular security audits should verify that all system directories maintain appropriate permission settings and that no unauthorized write access exists. Patch management procedures should be established to ensure that the latest security updates for WIN-911 2021 R1 and R2 systems are deployed promptly. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining least privilege principles and proper directory access controls as fundamental security measures that prevent unauthorized code execution and privilege escalation attacks.