CVE-2024-8975 in Alloy
Summary
by MITRE • 09/25/2024
Unquoted Search Path or Element vulnerability in Grafana Alloy on Windows allows Privilege Escalation from Local User to SYSTEM This issue affects Alloy: before 1.3.3, from 1.4.0-rc.0 through 1.4.0-rc.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-8975 represents a critical unquoted search path weakness in Grafana Alloy running on Windows systems, creating a privilege escalation vector that allows local users to elevate their access level from standard user to SYSTEM. This flaw specifically impacts versions of Grafana Alloy prior to 1.3.3 and within the release candidate versions 1.4.0-rc.0 through 1.4.0-rc.1, making it a targeted issue for organizations running these vulnerable software versions. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of search paths during service execution, where the system fails to properly quote directory paths that contain spaces, creating opportunities for malicious code injection.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-428, which describes unquoted search paths in Windows environments where applications fail to properly quote paths containing spaces, allowing attackers to place malicious executables in directories that are searched before the intended application location. When Grafana Alloy executes with an unquoted search path, Windows searches for executables in the following order: the current directory, then each directory listed in the PATH environment variable, and finally the system directories. If a malicious executable is placed in a directory that appears earlier in the search path, the system will execute this malicious code instead of the legitimate application, effectively enabling privilege escalation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations that deploy Grafana Alloy on Windows servers, particularly in environments where local user accounts may be compromised or where least privilege principles are not strictly enforced. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain SYSTEM-level access, which provides complete control over the affected system including the ability to modify or delete system files, install additional malware, and access sensitive data. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can serve as a foothold for further lateral movement within a network, potentially enabling attackers to compromise additional systems and escalate their access across the enterprise infrastructure.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically follows a pattern where an attacker identifies a directory in the search path that lacks proper quoting, places a malicious executable with the same name as the intended application in that directory, and then triggers the execution of the legitimate application. This technique maps to ATT&CK tactic T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploits, and specifically aligns with techniques involving service execution and abuse of system permissions. Organizations should consider implementing the principle of least privilege, ensuring that only authorized users have local access to affected systems, while also applying immediate mitigations through patching to version 1.3.3 or later releases. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough path analysis to identify and correct any unquoted search paths in their environment, particularly for critical services and applications running with elevated privileges. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper application security practices and demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration issues can result in severe security implications, making it essential for organizations to maintain robust security hygiene and regularly update their software components to address known vulnerabilities.