CVE-2022-28751 in Client for Meetings
Summary
by MITRE • 08/18/2022
The Zoom Client for Meetings for MacOS (Standard and for IT Admin) before version 5.11.3 contains a vulnerability in the package signature validation during the update process. A local low-privileged user could exploit this vulnerability to escalate their privileges to root.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28751 affects the Zoom Client for Meetings macOS versions prior to 5.11.3, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that undermines the security model of the application. This vulnerability specifically targets the package signature validation mechanism employed during software updates, creating an exploitable condition that allows unprivileged local users to gain root-level access to affected systems. The flaw exists within the update process implementation where the application fails to properly validate package signatures, potentially permitting malicious code execution with elevated privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and trust model implementation within the Zoom client's update infrastructure. When the application attempts to validate package signatures during installation, it does not adequately verify the authenticity and integrity of update packages, creating a path for malicious actors to manipulate the update process. This weakness aligns with CWE-220, which addresses improper validation of package signatures, and represents a direct violation of secure update practices outlined in industry security frameworks. The vulnerability exploits the trust relationship between the application and its update mechanism, allowing attackers to substitute legitimate update packages with malicious ones that bypass signature verification checks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations deploying the affected Zoom client versions, as it enables local privilege escalation attacks that can compromise entire systems. The exploitation requires only local access and low-privileged user accounts, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users share systems or where privilege separation is not strictly enforced. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install persistent backdoors, modify system configurations, or extract sensitive data from compromised systems. The impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potential network-wide infiltration, especially in enterprise environments where the Zoom client is widely deployed and may be used for sensitive business communications.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including prompt deployment of Zoom Client version 5.11.3 or later, which addresses the signature validation flaw through improved package verification mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as monitoring for unusual update activities and enforcing stricter access controls to prevent unauthorized package modifications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper software update security practices and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through software vulnerabilities. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify other potential update mechanism vulnerabilities and ensure that all third-party applications implement robust signature validation and secure update processes to prevent similar exploitation scenarios.