CVE-2024-28827 in Checkmk
Summary
by MITRE • 07/10/2024
Incorrect permissions on the Checkmk Windows Agent's data directory in Checkmk < 2.3.0p8, < 2.2.0p29, < 2.1.0p45, and <= 2.0.0p39 (EOL) allows a local attacker to gain SYSTEM privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28827 represents a critical permission misconfiguration in the Checkmk Windows Agent software that affects multiple version ranges including Checkmk versions prior to 2.3.0p8, 2.2.0p29, 2.1.0p45, and the end-of-life 2.0.0p39. This flaw resides within the data directory permissions of the Checkmk Windows Agent, creating a privilege escalation pathway that allows local attackers to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM level access. The vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms where the agent's data directory lacks appropriate permission controls, enabling unauthorized local users to manipulate critical system components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Windows file system permission model where the Checkmk Windows Agent creates a data directory with overly permissive access controls. This misconfiguration typically manifests as world-readable or world-writable permissions on sensitive directories that contain configuration files, logs, or executable components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by leveraging the local access to modify or replace critical agent files, potentially injecting malicious code or modifying agent behavior to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-276 which describes inadequate permissions for critical resources, and represents a classic privilege escalation vector through weak file system controls.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations using Checkmk monitoring solutions, particularly in environments where local user access cannot be fully controlled or where insider threats exist. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as attackers with SYSTEM privileges can access all system resources, modify critical configurations, disable monitoring services, or establish persistent backdoors. The attack surface is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Checkmk agents are deployed across numerous endpoints, potentially allowing a single compromised local account to gain full system control. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploits, and specifically demonstrates how weak file permissions can be leveraged for system-level access.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations by upgrading to the patched versions of Checkmk software as specified in the advisory, which addresses the permission misconfiguration in the agent's data directory. System administrators should also conduct immediate permission audits of existing Checkmk agent installations to ensure proper access controls are in place, particularly reviewing the data directories for appropriate user and group permissions. Additional protective measures include implementing least privilege access controls for local accounts, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to agent directories, and conducting regular security assessments of monitoring agent configurations. The remediation process should also include verifying that the Checkmk agent service runs with minimal required privileges and that no unnecessary permissions are granted to the agent process. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions to monitor for suspicious file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.