CVE-2017-2191 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A security vulnerability related to untrusted search paths has been identified in the RW-5100 driver installer for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, allowing attackers to elevate their privileges by exploiting a Trojan horse DLL.

Understanding CVE-2017-2191

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the RW-5100 driver installer for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 that enables privilege escalation through a malicious DLL.

What is CVE-2017-2191?

The CVE-2017-2191 vulnerability is a result of untrusted search paths in the RW-5100 driver installer for Windows 7 (version 1.0.0.9) and Windows 8.1 (version 1.0.1.0). Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges by utilizing a Trojan horse DLL located in an unspecified directory.

The Impact of CVE-2017-2191

The vulnerability poses a significant risk as it allows threat actors to escalate their privileges on affected systems, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-2191

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE-2017-2191 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The untrusted search path vulnerability in the RW-5100 driver installer for Windows 7 (version 1.0.0.9) and Windows 8.1 (version 1.0.1.0) permits attackers to exploit a Trojan horse DLL for privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: RW-5100 driver installer for Windows 7
Vendor: Sharp Corporation
Version: 1.0.0.9
Product: RW-5100 driver installer for Windows 8.1
Vendor: Sharp Corporation
Version: 1.0.1.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of this vulnerability involves the use of a Trojan horse DLL placed in an unspecified directory, allowing threat actors to execute arbitrary code and gain elevated privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the CVE-2017-2191 vulnerability, the following steps are recommended:

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement security best practices to restrict unauthorized access to system directories.
Regularly monitor and audit DLL files to detect any suspicious or unauthorized changes.
Apply the latest security patches and updates from the vendor to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively.
Educate users and IT staff on safe computing practices and the importance of verifying the integrity of software installations.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running the affected RW-5100 driver installer versions are updated with the latest patches provided by Sharp Corporation to address the vulnerability.