CVE-2024-25552 in Com-Umlenkung PnP
Summary
by MITRE • 03/01/2024
A local attacker can gain administrative privileges by inserting an executable file in the path of the affected product.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2025
This vulnerability represents a classic privilege escalation flaw that allows local attackers to elevate their system access from standard user level to administrative privileges through path manipulation techniques. The vulnerability exists within the affected product's executable loading mechanism, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize file paths during the execution process. Attackers can exploit this by placing a malicious executable file in a location that gets prioritized in the system's path resolution order, effectively allowing the malicious code to execute with elevated privileges when the vulnerable application attempts to load its dependencies.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses identified under CWE-427 and CWE-428, which specifically address uncontrolled search path elements and insecure library loading practices. These weaknesses enable attackers to manipulate the execution flow of legitimate applications by exploiting predictable path resolution behaviors. The vulnerability operates at the operating system level where the application's dynamic linker or loader resolves executable paths, typically through environment variables like PATH or hardcoded search directories that do not properly validate the authenticity or integrity of loaded modules.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to system security as it requires minimal attack surface to exploit successfully. The attacker does not need network access or complex attack vectors, making this particularly dangerous in environments where local access is possible. Once exploited, the malicious executable gains the same privileges as the vulnerable application, which often runs with administrative rights, thereby providing complete system compromise. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where users may have local access to systems but should not possess administrative privileges.
The attack pattern for this vulnerability follows established methodologies described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques such as T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1574 for hijacking execution flows. The exploitation process typically involves creating a malicious executable with the same name as a legitimate dependency, placing it in a directory that gets processed before the legitimate binary, and then triggering the vulnerable application to load the malicious component. This attack vector demonstrates how poor path resolution practices can be weaponized to achieve unauthorized privilege escalation without requiring sophisticated attack methods or extensive reconnaissance.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The most effective approach involves implementing proper path validation and sanitization within applications, ensuring that executable paths are explicitly defined and verified before execution. System administrators should also configure secure path environments by removing unnecessary directories from PATH variables and implementing strict file system permissions. Additionally, application whitelisting solutions and privilege separation mechanisms can prevent unauthorized code execution even if path manipulation occurs. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on path resolution practices can help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers.