CVE-2024-7253 in NoMachine
Summary
by MITRE • 11/23/2024
NoMachine Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of NoMachine. 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 nxnode.exe. The process loads a library from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM.
. Was ZDI-CAN-24039.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw in NoMachine software that enables attackers to elevate their privileges from low-privileged user accounts to SYSTEM level access. The vulnerability specifically affects the nxnode.exe component which is responsible for node management within the NoMachine architecture. The issue stems from improper library loading mechanisms that do not validate or secure the search path used to locate required dynamic link libraries. This creates an exploitable condition where malicious code can be loaded in place of legitimate system libraries, effectively allowing privilege escalation through a classic DLL hijacking attack vector.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-427 Uncontrolled Search Path Element, which describes situations where applications search for libraries in directories that can be manipulated by unprivileged users. The nxnode.exe process fails to properly secure its library search path, allowing an attacker to place malicious libraries in directories that are searched before legitimate system directories. This weakness is particularly dangerous because it operates under the assumption that the application will load libraries from predictable locations without adequate validation of source or integrity. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an initial foothold through a low-privileged user account, but once achieved, provides complete system compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant threat to organizations using NoMachine for remote desktop and compute services. The ability to escalate to SYSTEM privileges means that attackers can bypass all standard operating system security controls, gain complete access to system resources, modify critical system files, and establish persistent backdoors. The attack surface is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where NoMachine is used for remote access, as it provides a direct path to system-level compromise without requiring network-level access or complex exploitation techniques. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068 Privilege Escalation through the use of local exploitation methods that leverage trusted system processes.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting write access to directories where NoMachine components are installed, implementing proper library path validation, and applying the latest security patches from NoMachine. System administrators should also conduct thorough security audits to identify any unauthorized modifications to NoMachine installation directories and monitor for suspicious library loading patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices around library loading and search path management, emphasizing the need for developers to implement proper security controls such as explicit library path specifications and integrity checking mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and limit the attack surface through principle of least privilege configurations.