CVE-2024-13759: Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in Avira Prime 1.1.96.2

Overview

The vulnerability in question, CVE-2024-13759, is a Local Privilege Escalation that affects Avira Prime 1.1.96.2 on Windows 10 x64. This vulnerability is of significant concern as it allows local attackers to elevate their privileges to system-level via arbitrary file deletion. Due to the potential for system compromise or data leakage, organizations and individual users deploying Avira Prime should prioritize the mitigation of this cyber threat.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-13759
Severity: High – CVSS Score 7.8
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low (user level)
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Avira Prime | 1.1.96.2

How the Exploit Works

The exploit leverages the Avira.Spotlight.Service.exe in Avira Prime 1.1.96.2 to delete arbitrary files, which in turn allows the attacker to elevate their privileges to system-level. The attacker requires user-level privileges and must interact with the system to initiate the exploit. The potential impact of this exploit includes system compromise, including unauthorized access and control, as well as potential data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

While the exact code to exploit this vulnerability is not provided as a responsible disclosure measure, a conceptual example might look something like this:

# Attacker connects to the system
ssh attacker@target_system
# Navigates to Avira.Spotlight.Service.exe
cd /path/to/Avira.Spotlight.Service.exe
# Deletes arbitrary file to trigger privilege escalation
rm /path/to/arbitrary/file

After the arbitrary file is deleted, the system could potentially respond by elevating the privileges of the attacker, providing them with system-level access.

Mitigation and Recommendations

Organizations and individuals are advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as it is available to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. In the absence of a vendor patch, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation strategy. Regular patching and updating of software, along with continuous monitoring for any suspicious activities, are recommended as best practices in cybersecurity.