CVE-2016-9486

On Windows endpoints, the SecureConnector agent is vulnerable to privilege escalation whereby an authenticated unprivileged user can obtain administrator privileges on the endpoint because files are created in a folder with incorrect privileges

Description

On Windows endpoints, the SecureConnector agent must run under the local SYSTEM account or another administrator account in order to enable full functionality of the agent. The typical configuration is for the agent to run as a Windows service under the local SYSTEM account. The SecureConnector agent runs various plugin scripts and executables on the endpoint in order to gather and report information about the host to the CounterACT management appliance. The SecureConnector agent downloads these scripts and executables as needed from the CounterACT management appliance and runs them on the endpoint. By default, these executable files are downloaded to and run from the %TEMP% directory of the currently logged on user, despite the fact that the SecureConnector agent is running as SYSTEM. Aside from the downloaded scripts, the SecureConnector agent runs a batch file with SYSTEM privileges from the temp directory of the currently logged on user. If the naming convention of this script can be derived, which is made possible by placing it in a directory to which the user has read access, it may be possible overwrite the legitimate batch file with a malicious one before SecureConnector executes it. It is possible to change this directory by setting the the configuration property config.script_run_folder.value in the local.properties configuration file on the CounterACT management appliance, however the batch file which is run does not follow this property.

Remediation

Solution:

  • The vendor has released the HPS Inspection Engine Plugin, version 10.4.1.1 to address the vulnerability.

Categories

7.8
CVSS
Severity: High
CVSS 3.0 •
CVSS 2.0 •
EPSS 0.28%
Third-Party Advisory cert.org Third-Party Advisory securityfocus.com
Affected: Microsoft Windows SecureConnector agent
Published at:
Updated at:

References

Link Tags
https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/768331 third party advisory us government resource
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94740 third party advisory vdb entry

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2016-9486?
CVE-2016-9486 has been scored as a high severity vulnerability.
How to fix CVE-2016-9486?
To fix CVE-2016-9486: The vendor has released the HPS Inspection Engine Plugin, version 10.4.1.1 to address the vulnerability.
Is CVE-2016-9486 being actively exploited in the wild?
As for now, there are no information to confirm that CVE-2016-9486 is being actively exploited. According to its EPSS score, there is a ~0% probability that this vulnerability will be exploited by malicious actors in the next 30 days.
What software or system is affected by CVE-2016-9486?
CVE-2016-9486 affects Microsoft Windows SecureConnector agent.
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