CVE-2024-7250 in Internet Security Pro
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2024
Comodo Internet Security Pro cmdagent Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Comodo Internet Security Pro. 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 cmdagent executable. By creating a symbolic link, an attacker can abuse the agent 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-22829.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2024
The CVE-2024-7250 vulnerability represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw within Comodo Internet Security Pro's cmdagent component that demonstrates the dangerous consequences of improper file system permissions and symbolic link handling in security software. This vulnerability operates under the principle of privilege escalation through a carefully crafted attack vector that exploits the trust relationship between the cmdagent service and the file system operations it performs. The vulnerability specifically affects systems running Comodo Internet Security Pro where the cmdagent executable lacks proper validation mechanisms when processing symbolic links, creating an exploitable condition that allows local attackers to manipulate file operations and gain elevated privileges. The issue manifests when the cmdagent service processes symbolic links without sufficient validation, enabling an attacker to create malicious symbolic links that redirect file operations to critical system files, ultimately leading to privilege elevation to SYSTEM level access. This represents a classic example of a privilege escalation vulnerability that aligns with CWE-59: Improper Link Following During File Operation, which specifically addresses the risks associated with symbolic link handling in security contexts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first establish a foothold with low-privileged user access on the target system, as the vulnerability cannot be exploited remotely and requires local execution capabilities. Once the attacker has obtained low-privileged code execution, they can leverage the cmdagent's improper symbolic link handling by creating a carefully constructed symbolic link that points to a system file or directory. The cmdagent service, when processing this symbolic link, will follow the link and perform the intended file operation on the target file, effectively allowing the attacker to delete or modify critical system files that would normally require elevated privileges. This exploitation technique directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, where adversaries use vulnerabilities to gain higher-level permissions within a system. The vulnerability essentially creates a race condition or path traversal scenario where the cmdagent service does not properly validate the target of symbolic links before performing file operations, allowing attackers to manipulate the intended file operations to achieve unauthorized system modifications.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-7250 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass full system compromise capabilities, as attackers can leverage the SYSTEM-level access to execute arbitrary code, modify system configurations, install malware, or establish persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability represents a significant threat to enterprise environments where Comodo Internet Security Pro is deployed, as it allows attackers to bypass the very security controls that the software is designed to provide. Organizations running affected versions of Comodo Internet Security Pro face the risk of complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within their networks. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it affects the core security agent of the protection suite, creating a scenario where the security software becomes a vector for exploitation rather than a protective barrier. This type of vulnerability also has implications for compliance requirements, as it can result in violations of security standards that mandate proper privilege management and access controls within security software implementations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-7250 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities in security software. Organizations should prioritize applying vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available, as the vulnerability requires no special privileges to exploit beyond initial access. System administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious symbolic link creation patterns and file deletion activities, particularly around system directories and critical security files. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and path resolution in security software components, emphasizing the need for principle of least privilege implementation in service accounts and proper file system permission controls. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring, application whitelisting, and network segmentation to reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The incident also underscores the necessity of regular security assessments of security software components to identify and remediate similar flaws in the attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors.