CVE-2023-52093 in Apex One
Summary
by MITRE • 01/24/2024
An exposed dangerous function vulnerability in the Trend Micro Apex One agent could allow a local attacker to escalate privileges on affected installations.
Please note: an attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-52093 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Trend Micro Apex One agent software, specifically targeting systems where the agent is installed with elevated privileges. This vulnerability manifests as an exposed dangerous function that can be leveraged by local attackers to gain higher system privileges, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this security solution. The flaw exists within the agent's design and implementation, where certain functions intended for administrative or system-level operations are improperly exposed or accessible without adequate authorization checks. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through dangerous function calls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the Trend Micro Apex One agent runtime environment. When the agent operates with elevated privileges, it exposes functionality that should remain restricted to authorized administrative processes. Attackers who have already compromised a system with low-privileged access can exploit this flaw by invoking specific functions that normally require administrative permissions. The exposed function typically operates with elevated privileges and can be triggered through various attack vectors including direct execution or through compromised legitimate processes that the agent monitors. This creates a dangerous scenario where the very security solution designed to protect the system becomes a potential attack vector for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-52093 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of affected systems. Organizations using Trend Micro Apex One are at risk of complete system compromise when this vulnerability is exploited, as attackers can leverage the elevated privileges to access sensitive data, modify system configurations, install malicious software, or establish persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal initial access to exploit, making it attractive to threat actors who may already have footholds in networks through other means. Once exploited, the attacker can move laterally within the network using the elevated privileges, potentially compromising multiple systems and accessing critical infrastructure resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-52093 should focus on immediate remediation through official patches provided by Trend Micro, while also implementing additional protective measures. Organizations must ensure that Trend Micro Apex One agents are updated to versions that address this vulnerability, following the vendor's security advisory and release notes. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around privilege escalation events. Access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure that only authorized administrators can execute potentially dangerous functions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege separation and access control mechanisms, as outlined in security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for processes that might attempt to invoke the vulnerable functions, and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing this type of privilege escalation attack vector.