CVE-2022-30697 in Snap Deploy
Summary
by MITRE • 05/16/2022
Local privilege escalation due to insecure folder permissions. The following products are affected: Acronis Snap Deploy (Windows) before build 3640
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw in Acronis Snap Deploy for Windows systems prior to build 3640. The issue stems from insecure folder permissions that allow unauthorized local users to escalate their privileges to system level access. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-732 as improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, which directly enables path traversal and privilege escalation attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating folder permissions to gain elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper configuration of file system permissions within the Acronis Snap Deploy installation directories. When the software creates or maintains certain folders during installation or operation, it fails to properly restrict access permissions, allowing local users to modify or execute files within these directories. This flaw operates at the operating system level where standard user accounts can manipulate system resources that should only be accessible to administrators or system processes. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no network connectivity or external attack vectors, making it exploitable through local system access alone.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-30697 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and potential data exfiltration. Once an attacker achieves system-level privileges through this vulnerability, they can modify system files, install malware, disable security features, and access all system resources including user credentials and sensitive data. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes local privilege escalation, and T1548.1 which covers abuse of system permissions. The attack surface is particularly concerning for enterprise environments where multiple users may have local access to systems running vulnerable versions of Acronis Snap Deploy.
Organizations should immediately update to build 3640 or later versions of Acronis Snap Deploy to remediate this vulnerability. System administrators should also conduct thorough permission audits of Acronis Snap Deploy installation directories to ensure that no unauthorized users have access to system-critical folders. The mitigation strategy should include implementing least privilege principles for all system accounts and regularly reviewing file system permissions. Additionally, organizations should monitor for any suspicious activity in system logs that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around folder access and privilege escalation events. Security teams should consider implementing automated patch management solutions to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all vulnerable systems.