CVE-2024-7251 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 create a file. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-22832.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2024-7251 represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw in Comodo Internet Security Pro's cmdagent component that demonstrates a classic path traversal and symbolic link abuse pattern. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-59, which deals with improper handling of symbolic links, and falls within the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques under T1068. The flaw specifically resides in how the cmdagent executable processes file operations, creating a dangerous condition where symbolic links can be manipulated to redirect file creation operations to arbitrary locations within the filesystem. The vulnerability requires an initial foothold through low-privileged code execution, making it a typical post-exploitation vector that attackers would leverage after achieving initial access through other means such as phishing or unpatched remote exploits.
The technical exploitation mechanism involves an attacker creating a carefully crafted symbolic link that points to a location where the cmdagent process will attempt to create or modify files. When the vulnerable cmdagent process executes with elevated privileges, it follows the symbolic link and creates or modifies files at the target location, effectively allowing arbitrary file creation in privileged directories. This creates a dangerous scenario where an attacker can place malicious executables or configuration files in system directories that will be executed with SYSTEM privileges. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal access controls and escalate from a low-privileged user account to SYSTEM level access, which provides complete control over the affected system. The attack vector demonstrates a classic privilege escalation pattern where a service running with elevated privileges is compromised through manipulation of file system operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access and deploy additional malicious tools within the compromised system. Once escalated to SYSTEM level, attackers can modify system files, install rootkits, manipulate registry entries, and potentially move laterally to other systems within the network. The vulnerability affects all versions of Comodo Internet Security Pro that include the vulnerable cmdagent component, making it a significant concern for organizations that have not yet patched their systems. From a security perspective, this vulnerability represents a serious weakness in the application's privilege management and file system operation handling, as it demonstrates poor input validation and insufficient access control mechanisms in the privileged code path.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-7251 should focus on immediate patching of the Comodo Internet Security Pro software to address the underlying cmdagent vulnerability. Organizations should also implement strict monitoring of symbolic link creation and file system operations in privileged processes to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and privilege separation practices should be reinforced to minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities, as attackers who gain initial access through other means can leverage this weakness for further compromise. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege management and the need for security-conscious development practices, particularly in components that handle file system operations with elevated privileges. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough security audits to identify any other potentially vulnerable services or applications that might exhibit similar weaknesses in their file handling mechanisms.