CVE-2022-24286 in QuickAccess
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2022
Acer QuickAccess 2.01.300x before 2.01.3030 and 3.00.30xx before 3.00.3038 contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability. The user process communicates with a service of system authority through a named pipe. In this case, the Named Pipe is also given Read and Write rights to the general user. In addition, the service program does not verify the user when communicating. A thread may exist with a specific command. When the path of the program to be executed is sent, there is a local privilege escalation in which the service program executes the path with system privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-24286 affects Acer QuickAccess software versions prior to 2.01.3030 and 3.00.3038, representing a critical local privilege escalation flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges. This vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the software's architecture, specifically in how it handles inter-process communication between user-level processes and system-level services. The affected software establishes communication through named pipes, which serve as the primary communication channel between the user-facing QuickAccess application and its underlying system service component. The flaw manifests when the system grants read and write permissions on the named pipe to general user accounts, creating an attack surface that allows unauthorized users to interact with the privileged service.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a fundamental breakdown in authentication and authorization checks within the service program. When a user process sends commands through the named pipe to the system service, the service fails to validate the identity or privileges of the requesting user. This absence of proper authentication creates a scenario where any local user can craft malicious commands and send them through the pipe to the service. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous when the service receives a command containing an executable path, as it then executes this path with elevated system privileges. The service essentially acts as a trusted execution environment for user commands without verifying that the command originates from an authorized source, allowing arbitrary code execution with administrative rights.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities from a local attack vector. Once exploited, an attacker gains the ability to install malicious software, modify system files, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the affected system. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Acer devices running the vulnerable QuickAccess software, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where multiple devices may be simultaneously vulnerable. The exploitability is relatively straightforward, requiring only local user access to the system, which means that any user with physical access or basic login credentials can potentially exploit this vulnerability. This characteristic significantly reduces the attack surface and increases the risk profile, as the attack does not require network connectivity or complex remote exploitation techniques.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves local privilege escalation through service manipulation. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as the vulnerability does not require network-based exploitation and can be leveraged by any user with local access. Recommended mitigations include updating to the patched versions of Acer QuickAccess software, implementing additional access controls on named pipes, and conducting thorough security assessments of similar software components that may exhibit similar architectural flaws. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous activity related to named pipe usage and privilege escalation attempts to provide additional defense-in-depth measures against potential exploitation of this vulnerability.