CVE-2024-7562 in InstallShield
Summary
by MITRE • 06/12/2025
A potential elevated privilege issue has been reported with InstallShield built Standalone MSI setups having multiple InstallScript custom actions configured. All supported versions (InstallShield 2023 R2, InstallShield 2022 R2 and InstallShield 2021 R2) are affected by this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7562 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within InstallShield-built standalone msi setups that utilize multiple InstallScript custom actions. This issue affects specific versions of InstallShield software including 2023 R2, 2022 R2, and 2021 R2, creating a persistent security risk for organizations relying on these installation frameworks. The vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling during the installation process where elevated privileges are not correctly managed or restricted during custom action execution, potentially allowing malicious actors to exploit this weakness for unauthorized system access. The technical nature of this flaw places it within the purview of CWE-787, representing an out-of-bounds write condition that can occur when InstallScript custom actions execute with elevated privileges without proper input validation or privilege boundary enforcement. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which encompasses privilege escalation tactics through the exploitation of software vulnerabilities, specifically targeting installation and deployment frameworks that handle elevated permissions. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it creates a persistent backdoor opportunity for adversaries who can manipulate installation processes to gain system-level access.
The core technical flaw manifests when multiple InstallScript custom actions are configured within an msi package, creating a scenario where the installation process fails to properly isolate or restrict elevated privileges during custom action execution. During the installation process, when multiple custom actions are present, the privilege management system does not adequately enforce proper privilege boundaries, allowing actions that should execute with standard user privileges to potentially inherit elevated permissions. This misconfiguration creates an attack surface where malicious actors can craft installation packages that exploit the privilege escalation opportunity, particularly when the installation process executes with administrator privileges. The flaw becomes particularly dangerous when considering that InstallShield installations often occur during system setup or software deployment phases where elevated privileges are routinely granted, making the exploitation vector highly accessible. The vulnerability can be exploited through manipulation of the installation package itself, potentially allowing attackers to inject malicious code that leverages the elevated privilege context to perform unauthorized system modifications, registry changes, or file operations that would otherwise be restricted to administrators.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-7562 extends far beyond individual system compromise as it affects the fundamental security posture of organizations relying on InstallShield-based deployment solutions. Enterprise environments using these installation frameworks face significant risk of persistent unauthorized access, as the vulnerability can be exploited through legitimate software deployment channels, making detection particularly challenging. Organizations may experience unauthorized privilege escalation during routine software updates or system installations, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access or deploy additional malicious payloads. The vulnerability's presence in multiple supported versions means that organizations across different software lifecycle stages remain at risk, creating a broad attack surface that spans from legacy systems using older InstallShield versions to newer deployments utilizing the latest supported releases. This widespread impact affects not only the immediate security of individual installations but also creates cascading risks for network-wide access, as compromised installations can serve as entry points for broader lateral movement within enterprise environments, particularly when the vulnerable installations are part of standard deployment procedures across multiple systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-7562 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent exploitation of the privilege escalation vulnerability. Organizations should immediately upgrade to the latest supported versions of InstallShield that contain patches for this vulnerability, as the affected versions represent a known security risk that cannot be adequately mitigated through configuration changes alone. System administrators should implement strict code signing policies for all installation packages and establish comprehensive monitoring for unusual installation activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of least privilege principles during installation processes should be enforced, ensuring that InstallScript custom actions only execute with the minimum required privileges necessary for their intended function. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all installation packages and deployment frameworks to identify other potential privilege escalation vectors within their software deployment infrastructure. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized installation packages, particularly those that might exploit this vulnerability through manipulation of InstallScript custom actions. The mitigation approach should align with industry best practices for privilege management and software deployment security, ensuring that the fundamental architecture of installation processes prevents unauthorized privilege escalation while maintaining legitimate software deployment capabilities.