CVE-2024-42028 in UniFi Network Application
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2024
A Local privilege escalation vulnerability found in a Self-Hosted UniFi Network Server with UniFi Network Application (Version 8.4.62 and earlier) allows a malicious actor with a local operational system user to execute high privilege actions on UniFi Network Server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw in the UniFi Network Application ecosystem affecting versions 8.4.62 and earlier. The issue arises from insufficient privilege separation mechanisms within the self-hosted UniFi Network Server implementation, creating a pathway for low-privilege local users to escalate their access rights to system-level privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of local user permissions and privilege management, allowing an attacker who has already established a foothold on the system to leverage this weakness for unauthorized administrative access.
The technical implementation of this privilege escalation flaw stems from improper access control mechanisms within the UniFi Network Application's local user management system. When local users interact with the application's operational components, the system fails to properly validate or enforce privilege boundaries, enabling malicious actors to execute commands that should be restricted to administrative users. This weakness is particularly concerning as it operates at the operating system level rather than within network protocols, making it more difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privilege management in software applications, and specifically demonstrates how inadequate access control can lead to unauthorized system-level operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the UniFi Network Server environment. Once escalated, malicious actors can modify network configurations, access sensitive data, install additional malware, or manipulate the network infrastructure in ways that could disrupt business operations or compromise network security. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on self-hosted UniFi solutions, potentially exposing their network management systems to unauthorized access. This risk is particularly elevated in environments where local user accounts may be compromised through other attack vectors, as the privilege escalation can be leveraged to maintain persistent access and expand the attack surface.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate version updates to UniFi Network Application 8.4.63 or later, which contain patches addressing the privilege escalation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including regular privilege reviews, monitoring for unauthorized local user activities, and ensuring that only necessary local accounts exist on the system. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of principle of least privilege implementation and proper access control validation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation. Network administrators should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their UniFi deployments to identify and remediate similar privilege management issues that could exist in other components of their network infrastructure.