CVE-2017-7850 : What You Need to Know

Nessus 6.10.x before 6.10.5 has a vulnerability that allows local privilege escalation due to insecure permissions in Agent Mode.

Understanding CVE-2017-7850

This CVE involves a security issue in Nessus 6.10.x that could potentially lead to local privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2017-7850?

The vulnerability in Nessus 6.10.x, before version 6.10.5, pertains to insecure permissions when operating in Agent Mode, posing a risk of local privilege escalation.

The Impact of CVE-2017-7850

The vulnerability could allow an attacker to escalate their privileges locally, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information or performing malicious actions on the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-7850

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Nessus 6.10.x involves insecure permissions in Agent Mode, enabling a local privilege escalation scenario.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Versions: Nessus 6.10.x (prior to 6.10.5)
Systems: Systems running Nessus 6.10.x before the patched version are vulnerable to this issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker with local access to the system, leveraging the insecure permissions in Agent Mode to elevate their privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-7850 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Nessus to version 6.10.5 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities that could indicate privilege escalation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict unnecessary access rights.
Regularly audit and review permissions on critical system components to prevent similar issues.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches and updates provided by the vendor to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.