CVE-2022-45798 in Apex One
Summary
by MITRE • 12/24/2022
A link following vulnerability in the Damage Cleanup Engine component of Trend Micro Apex One and Trend Micro Apex One as a Service could allow a local attacker to escalate privileges by creating a symbolic link and abusing the service to delete a file. Please note: an attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-45798 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Damage Cleanup Engine component of Trend Micro Apex One and its cloud-based service variant. This vulnerability specifically targets the file deletion functionality of the security software, creating a dangerous attack vector that can be exploited by local adversaries who have already gained low-privileged access to a system. The flaw stems from improper handling of symbolic links during the cleanup process, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the system's file operations and potentially target sensitive files for deletion. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-59, which addresses improper handling of symbolic links, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through the exploitation of software vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the Damage Cleanup Engine's file management subsystem where it processes cleanup operations without adequately validating the integrity of symbolic links. When a malicious user creates a symbolic link pointing to a critical system file and then triggers the cleanup service, the engine follows the link and deletes the target file instead of the intended symbolic link. This behavior fundamentally violates the principle of least privilege and creates a scenario where a local attacker can leverage the legitimate cleanup functionality to remove critical system components or sensitive data files. The service operates with elevated privileges to perform its cleanup duties, making this vector particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to bypass normal file access controls and potentially target files that would otherwise be protected from deletion by regular user accounts.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-45798 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can enable attackers to disrupt system operations, remove forensic evidence, or create persistent access points by deleting security-related files. Attackers can use this vulnerability to target system configuration files, security logs, or even other security tools installed on the system, effectively weakening the overall security posture. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an initial foothold through code execution, but once achieved, it provides a reliable method for escalating privileges and maintaining persistent access. This makes it particularly attractive to attackers who may be conducting long-term campaigns against targeted systems, as it provides a stable method for maintaining control while potentially covering their tracks by deleting evidence of compromise.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including ensuring that Trend Micro Apex One is updated to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability, which typically includes proper validation of symbolic links during cleanup operations. System administrators should also consider restricting the execution of cleanup services to only trusted users and implementing additional monitoring for unusual file deletion patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, particularly when dealing with file system operations that may be executed with elevated privileges. Network segmentation and privilege separation should be enforced to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, while regular security assessments should include testing for similar symbolic link handling flaws in other security software components. Additionally, implementing file integrity monitoring solutions can help detect unauthorized deletions that may result from exploitation of this vulnerability.