Vulnerabilities > CVE-2020-1988 - Unquoted Search Path or Element vulnerability in Paloaltonetworks Globalprotect

047910
CVSS 6.7 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
LOCAL
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
HIGH
Confidentiality impact
HIGH
Integrity impact
HIGH
Availability impact
HIGH
local
low complexity
paloaltonetworks
CWE-428
nessus
NVD
Published: 2020-04-08
Updated: 2024-11-21

Summary

An unquoted search path vulnerability in the Windows release of Global Protect Agent allows an authenticated local user with file creation privileges on the root of the OS disk (C:\) or to Program Files directory to gain system privileges. This issue affects Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect Agent 5.0 versions before 5.0.5; 4.1 versions before 4.1.13 on Windows;

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Paloaltonetworks
4

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths
    This attack loads a malicious resource into a program's standard path used to bootstrap and/or provide contextual information for a program like a path variable or classpath. J2EE applications and other component based applications that are built from multiple binaries can have very long list of dependencies to execute. If one of these libraries and/or references is controllable by the attacker then application controls can be circumvented by the attacker. A standard UNIX path looks similar to this If the attacker modifies the path variable to point to a locale that includes malicious resources then the user unwittingly can execute commands on the attackers' behalf: This is a form of usurping control of the program and the attack can be done on the classpath, database resources, or any other resources built from compound parts. At runtime detection and blocking of this attack is nearly impossible, because the configuration allows execution.

Nessus

NASL familyWindows
NASL idPALO_ALTO_GLOBALPROTECT_AGENT_CVE-2020-1988.NASL
descriptionThe version of Palo Alto GlobalProtect Agent installed on the remote Windows host is 4.1.x prior to 4.1.3, or 5.0.x prior to 5.0.5. It is, therefore, affected by a privilege escalation vulnerability due to a problem with the file creation permission on the OS disk. An authenticated, local attacker can exploit this to gain system privileges. Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application
last seen2020-04-30
modified2020-04-22
plugin id135898
published2020-04-22
reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/135898
titlePalo Alto GlobalProtect Agent 4.1.x < 4.1.13 / 5.0.x < 5.0.5 Privilege Escalation
code
#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(135898);
  script_version("1.2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/04/23");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2020-1988");
  script_xref(name:"IAVA", value:"2020-A-0137");

  script_name(english:"Palo Alto GlobalProtect Agent 4.1.x < 4.1.13 / 5.0.x < 5.0.5 Privilege Escalation");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"A VPN client installed on remote Windows host is affected by a privilege escalation vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The version of Palo Alto GlobalProtect Agent installed on the remote Windows host is 4.1.x prior to 4.1.3, or 5.0.x
prior to 5.0.5. It is, therefore, affected by a privilege escalation vulnerability due to a problem with the file
creation permission on the OS disk. An authenticated, local attacker can exploit this to gain system
privileges.

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version
number.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2020-1988");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to Palo Alto GlobalProtect Agent 4.1.3, 5.0.5, or later");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2020-1988");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2020/04/08");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2020/04/08");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2020/04/22");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"stig_severity", value:"I");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Windows");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("palo_alto_globalprotect_agent_win_installed.nbin");
  script_require_keys("installed_sw/Palo Alto GlobalProtect Agent", "SMB/Registry/Enumerated");

  exit(0);
}

include('vcf.inc');

get_kb_item_or_exit('SMB/Registry/Enumerated');

app_info = vcf::get_app_info(app:'Palo Alto GlobalProtect Agent', win_local:TRUE);

vcf::check_granularity(app_info:app_info, sig_segments:3);

constraints = [
  {'min_version' : '4.1', 'fixed_version' : '4.1.13'},
  {'min_version' : '5.0', 'fixed_version' : '5.0.5'}
];

vcf::check_version_and_report(app_info:app_info, constraints:constraints, severity:SECURITY_HOLE);

References