CVE-2024-34016 in Cyber Protect Cloud Agent
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2024
Local privilege escalation due to DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud Agent (Windows) before build 38235.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-34016 represents a critical local privilege escalation vector stemming from a DLL hijacking flaw within the Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud Agent for Windows platforms. This issue affects versions prior to build 38235 and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation gaps in software deployment can lead to significant security compromises. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of dynamic link library loading mechanisms, creating opportunities for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insecure DLL loading practices employed by the Acronis agent software. When the application attempts to load dynamic link libraries, it follows a path that does not properly validate or restrict the locations from which libraries can be loaded. This behavior creates a race condition where an attacker can place a malicious DLL in a directory that is searched before the legitimate library locations, effectively hijacking the execution flow. This flaw aligns with CWE-426 Untrusted Search Path and represents a classic example of insecure library loading that has been documented across numerous software platforms over many years.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within affected systems. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they gain the ability to execute code with system-level privileges, potentially enabling complete system compromise. The implications are particularly severe for enterprise environments where these agents are deployed across multiple endpoints, as a single compromised machine could provide attackers with a launching point for broader network infiltration. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers Local Privilege Escalation, and T1547.001, which covers Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder, as the compromised agent could be used to establish persistence mechanisms.
Organizations deploying Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud Agent should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of the patched build 38235 or later versions. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive vulnerability assessment across all affected endpoints, followed by systematic patch deployment. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring for unusual DLL loading patterns and consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict which binaries can execute on affected systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper library loading mechanisms in preventing privilege escalation attacks. Security teams should also conduct regular audits of deployed software to identify potential insecure search path implementations and ensure that all third-party applications follow secure development practices. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security controls to protect against exploitation of such fundamental vulnerabilities in enterprise security infrastructure.