CVE-2024-0832 in Telerik Reporting
Summary
by MITRE • 01/31/2024
In Telerik Reporting versions prior to 2024 R1, a privilege elevation vulnerability has been identified in the applications installer component. In an environment where an existing Telerik Reporting install is present, a lower privileged user has the ability to manipulate the installation package to elevate their privileges on the underlying operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2024
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2024-0832 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Telerik Reporting installer component affecting versions prior to 2024 R1. This security weakness resides in the installation process itself rather than the reporting functionality, creating a dangerous attack surface that allows unprivileged users to gain elevated system privileges. The flaw specifically targets environments where Telerik Reporting is already installed, making it particularly concerning for organizations with existing deployments that may not have been updated to the latest version. The vulnerability exploits the installer's handling of installation packages, creating opportunities for malicious manipulation that bypass normal access controls and privilege boundaries.
The technical implementation of this privilege escalation vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and privilege handling within the installer component. When a lower privileged user interacts with the installation process, the system fails to properly verify the integrity of installation packages or enforce appropriate access controls during package manipulation. This weakness creates a path where malicious actors can alter installation files or inject malicious code that executes with elevated privileges during the installation process. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) and CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) categories, as it involves both improper handling of installation package integrity and inadequate privilege enforcement. The installer component likely lacks proper input validation mechanisms and fails to implement secure privilege separation during package processing, allowing unauthorized privilege elevation through manipulation of installation artifacts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and persistent access exploitation. An attacker with limited user access can leverage this vulnerability to gain administrative privileges on the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This flaw is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users may have access to systems with existing Telerik Reporting installations, as it provides a path for lateral movement and privilege escalation that can bypass traditional security controls. The vulnerability can be exploited to install malicious software, modify system configurations, or establish persistence mechanisms that persist beyond the initial exploitation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1068 (Local Port Forwarding) and T1548.002 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism) techniques, as it enables unauthorized elevation of privileges and can be used to maintain access through modified installation components.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies focusing on patch management and access control enforcement. The primary remediation involves updating all affected Telerik Reporting installations to version 2024 R1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the privilege escalation vulnerability. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory checks to identify all systems running vulnerable versions and prioritize patch deployment across the organization. Additional protective measures include implementing strict access controls for installation directories, enabling file integrity monitoring for installation packages, and conducting regular security assessments of installed software components. Network segmentation and privilege least-privilege principles should be enforced to limit potential impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software installations and proper security hygiene, as it represents a failure in the software supply chain security model where installation components are not adequately protected against manipulation by unauthorized users.