CVE-2024-1867 in Total Security
Summary
by MITRE • 11/23/2024
G DATA Total Security Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of G DATA Total Security. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the G DATA Backup Service. By creating a symbolic link, an attacker can abuse the service to delete a file. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-22312.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1867 represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw within G DATA Total Security software, specifically affecting the G DATA Backup Service component. This vulnerability operates under the CWE-264 weakness category, which encompasses permissions, privileges, and access control issues that enable unauthorized privilege escalation. The flaw manifests when an attacker can manipulate symbolic links within the backup service functionality, creating a dangerous condition where file deletion operations can be abused to gain elevated system privileges. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an initial foothold through low-privileged code execution, aligning with the ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes local privilege escalation through system-level access control weaknesses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper handling of symbolic links within the G DATA Backup Service. When the service processes file operations, it fails to properly validate the target paths, allowing attackers to create malicious symbolic links that redirect file operations to critical system files. This weakness creates a privilege escalation path where a local user can manipulate the backup service to delete files that would normally require administrative privileges to modify. The vulnerability's exploitation path follows the ATT&CK matrix's T1548.001 technique for abuse of privileges, specifically targeting the Windows service architecture where backup services often operate with elevated privileges. The fact that this vulnerability was tracked as ZDI-CAN-22312 indicates it was recognized by the Zero Day Initiative and underwent proper vulnerability coordination processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-1867 is severe as it provides attackers with a direct path to SYSTEM-level privileges on affected systems. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability enables full system compromise where attackers can execute arbitrary code with the highest possible privileges, potentially leading to complete network infiltration, data exfiltration, or persistence mechanisms deployment. The vulnerability affects systems running vulnerable versions of G DATA Total Security, particularly those where the backup service operates with elevated privileges and where symbolic link creation is permitted. The attack vector requires local access and initial code execution capabilities, making it less suitable for remote exploitation but still dangerous in environments where attackers can establish a foothold through other means such as phishing or web application vulnerabilities that lead to local code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-1867 should prioritize immediate patching of affected G DATA Total Security installations, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation. Organizations should implement strict access controls on backup service configurations and monitor for unauthorized symbolic link creation activities. The vulnerability's nature suggests that implementing proper path validation and symbolic link handling within the backup service could prevent exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious file deletion patterns and unauthorized service modifications should be part of the defensive strategy. The ATT&CK framework recommends implementing process monitoring and behavioral analysis to detect anomalous activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also review their patch management processes to ensure rapid deployment of security updates for endpoint protection software, as this vulnerability represents a common attack surface for endpoint security solutions.