Overview
The CVE-2025-10198 vulnerability is a serious issue that affects Sunshine for Windows version v2025.122.141614. A DLL search-order hijacking vulnerability, it allows attackers to insert a malicious DLL into user-writable PATH directories, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage. This report aims to provide a detailed understanding of this vulnerability and offer guidance to mitigate its impacts.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-10198
Severity: High (7.8/10)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Sunshine for Windows | v2025.122.141614
How the Exploit Works
The exploit takes advantage of a weakness in the DLL search order of Sunshine for Windows. By placing a malicious DLL in a user-writable PATH directory, an attacker can trick the system into loading the malicious DLL instead of the legitimate one. Once loaded, the malicious DLL can execute arbitrary code, potentially compromising the system or causing data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. In this scenario, an attacker creates a malicious DLL and places it in a user-writable PATH directory.
# Attacker creates a malicious DLL
echo '...malicious code...' > evil.dll
# Attacker places the malicious DLL in a user-writable PATH directory
cp evil.dll /path/to/user-writable/directory/
# When Sunshine for Windows attempts to load a DLL, it loads the malicious DLL instead
/path/to/sunshine/for/windows/executablePlease note that this is a simplified example for illustrative purposes. Real-world exploits may be more complex and require additional steps or conditions.
Mitigation Guidance
To mitigate the potential impact of this vulnerability, users are advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. It’s also recommended to limit the number of user-writable PATH directories and regularly monitor these directories for any suspicious activities.
