CVE-2026-118462 in Infantia
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2026
Update components download and execute code without proper authenticity verification, relying on ignored hashes or forgeable checksums. Some update paths also permit archive traversal or script execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical failure in the integrity assurance mechanisms of software update systems, specifically categorized under CWE-345 Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity and CWE-287 Improper Authentication. This flaw allows an attacker to perform unauthorized code execution by manipulating the components downloaded during the update process. The core technical issue lies in the application's reliance on weak cryptographic primitives or ignored validation checks when verifying the authenticity of incoming updates. By neglecting proper hash verification, such as SHA-256 signatures, or utilizing forgeable checksums like CRC32 without additional integrity guards, the system fails to detect tampered payloads. This creates a direct pathway for an attacker to substitute legitimate update files with malicious ones that have been crafted to pass these insufficient validation checks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote code execution (RCE) on affected systems if the vulnerable component runs with elevated privileges or is executed automatically upon download. The impact extends beyond simple data corruption; it allows for full system compromise, including privilege escalation, persistence establishment, and lateral movement within a network environment. This aligns closely with MITRE ATT&CK techniques such as T1195 Supply Chain Compromise and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries leverage trusted update channels to deliver malware that is perceived as legitimate by the operating system or application sandbox. The lack of strict authenticity verification undermines the trust model inherent in automatic update mechanisms, turning a feature designed for security maintenance into an attack vector.
Furthermore, the mention of archive traversal indicates a secondary vulnerability often associated with path manipulation, known as CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory or CWE-359 Exposed Unsafe Active Component if it leads to arbitrary file overwrite. Archive traversal allows attackers to escape intended directories and write files to sensitive locations on the filesystem, potentially overwriting critical system binaries or configuration files. This capability amplifies the severity of the initial code execution flaw by allowing persistence mechanisms that survive application restarts or updates. Additionally, permitting script execution within update archives introduces risks related to CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code (Code Injection), where embedded scripts are interpreted and executed in a context with potentially higher privileges than intended.
Mitigation strategies must focus on implementing robust cryptographic verification processes. Developers should enforce the use of strong hashing algorithms, such as SHA-256 or stronger, combined with digital signatures using asymmetric cryptography to verify both integrity and authenticity. It is imperative that update clients strictly validate these signatures against trusted public keys before proceeding with any installation steps. Regarding archive handling, strict path validation must be implemented to prevent directory traversal attacks by ensuring all extracted files remain within the designated target directory. Furthermore, restricting or completely disabling script execution capabilities during the unpacking phase of updates will mitigate the risk of arbitrary code injection through malicious scripts embedded in archives. Regular security audits and static analysis tools should be employed to detect these patterns early in the development lifecycle.