Author: Ameeba

Overview

The vulnerability under discussion, CVE-2024-9524, presents a significant threat to users of Avira Prime version 1.1.96.2 on Windows 10 x64. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code within the context of the SYSTEM, posing a serious risk to system security. The impact is significant because it compromises the integrity of the system and potentially exposes sensitive data to malevolent actors. Cybersecurity professionals, network administrators, and individual users should be aware of this vulnerability and take the necessary steps to secure their systems.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-9524
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Avira Prime | Version 1.1.96.2 on Windows 10 x64

How the Exploit Works

The exploit takes advantage of a Time-of-check to Time-of-use (TOCTTOU) condition in Avira Prime’s Speedup Service. In essence, it manipulates the time gap between the check (when the system verifies the file’s properties) and the use (when the file is executed or written). An attacker can exploit this gap to create a symbolic link to a privileged file or directory.
When the Speedup Service attempts to perform operations on the originally intended file, it inadvertently performs them on the linked file instead, thus potentially granting elevated privileges or executing arbitrary code. The exploit requires local access to the system and user interaction, making social engineering or another form of initial compromise a likely vector for the attack.

Conceptual Example Code

The example below illustrates a conceptual command-line sequence an attacker might use to exploit this vulnerability:

# Attacker gains low-level access to the system
$ whoami
low-privilege-user
# Attacker creates symbolic link to a system file
$ ln -s /path/to/system/file /path/to/SpeedupService/file
# Attacker manipulates the SpeedupService to perform operations on the link
$ ./malicious_operation
# If successful, the attacker now has escalated privileges
$ whoami
SYSTEM

This is a simplified representation of an attack scenario. Actual exploitation would likely involve more complex steps and sophisticated techniques.

Overview

CVE-2024-13962 is a severe security vulnerability discovered in Gen Digital Inc. Avast Cleanup Premium Version 24.2.16593.17810 on Windows 10 Pro x64. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of the SYSTEM. This privilege escalation vulnerability is particularly concerning as it poses a significant threat to the security of all systems running the affected software worldwide. It has the potential to compromise system integrity and lead to data leakage if not mitigated promptly and correctly.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-13962
Severity: High, CVSS score of 7.8
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: Privilege escalation, potential system compromise, and data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Avast Cleanup Premium| Version 24.2.16593.17810 on Windows 10 Pro x64

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability occurs due to the insecure handling of symbolic links in the TuneupSvc function of the Avast Cleanup Premium software. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by creating a symbolic link and leveraging a TOCTTOU (time-of-check to time-of-use) attack. Essentially, the software checks the symbolic link at one point and then uses it at a later time, during which an attacker can alter the link. This misstep allows the attacker to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of the SYSTEM, leading to potential system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

The following pseudocode illustrates a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:

# Pseudocode for CVE-2024-13962 exploit
def exploit():
# Create a symbolic link
create_symlink('target_link', 'malicious_link')
# Wait for software to check the link
while not is_checked('target_link'):
time.sleep(1)
# Change the symbolic link after the check
change_symlink('target_link', 'malicious_link')
# Execute arbitrary code
execute_code_as_system('malicious_code')

This pseudocode represents the attacker’s actions. The create_symlink function creates a symbolic link, the is_checked function checks if the link has been validated by the software, the change_symlink function changes the symbolic link after validation, and the execute_code_as_system function executes arbitrary code with escalated privileges.
Please note that this is a simplification of the exploit process for illustrative purposes and does not represent an actual working exploit.

Overview

The CVE-2024-13961 vulnerability is a critical security flaw found in Avast Cleanup Premium Version 24.2.16593.17810 on Windows 10 Pro x64. This vulnerability can be exploited by local attackers to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. It has serious implications for the security of any system running the affected software as it could potentially lead to system compromise or data leakage, making it a high-risk vulnerability that needs to be addressed immediately.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-13961
Severity: High (CVSS: 7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Avast Cleanup Premium | 24.2.16593.17810

How the Exploit Works

This vulnerability is caused by a TOCTTOU (time-of-check to time-of-use) flaw in the TuneupSvc component of Avast Cleanup Premium. An attacker can exploit this flaw by creating a symbolic link and leveraging a race condition. This allows them to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM, effectively gaining full control over the affected system.

Conceptual Example Code

The exact mechanics of the exploit depend on the specific environment, but the general idea is shown in the pseudocode below:

// Attacker creates a symbolic link
create_symlink("/path/to/vulnerable/file", "/path/to/attacker/controlled/file");
// Attacker leverages TOCTTOU race condition
while(true) {
if (check_file_access("/path/to/vulnerable/file")) {
execute_code_as_system("/path/to/attacker/controlled/file");
break;
}
}

In this pseudocode, the `create_symlink` function creates a symbolic link from a file in a location that the TuneupSvc component is known to write to a file that the attacker controls. The `check_file_access` function checks if the TuneupSvc component is about to write to the file, and if it is, the `execute_code_as_system` function is called to execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM.

Mitigation and Prevention

The vendor has released a patch to address this vulnerability, and all users are strongly urged to apply this patch immediately. As a temporary measure before the patch can be applied, users can make use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to help mitigate potential attacks. However, these are only temporary solutions and the patch should be applied as soon as possible to fully mitigate the vulnerability.