CVE-2018-10171 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been discovered in Kromtech MacKeeper 3.20.4 that allows an unprivileged application to execute shell scripts with root user privileges.

Understanding CVE-2018-10171

This CVE relates to a root privilege escalation vulnerability in the

com.mackeeper.AdwareAnalyzer.AdwareAnalyzerPrivilegedHelper

component of Kromtech MacKeeper 3.20.4.

What is CVE-2018-10171?

The vulnerability enables an unprivileged application to connect to the AdwareAnalyzerPrivilegedHelper tool, which implements an XPC service, and execute shell scripts as the root user.

The Impact of CVE-2018-10171

The vulnerability allows unauthorized access to root user privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized system modifications and access to sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-10171

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Kromtech MacKeeper 3.20.4 allows unprivileged applications to establish a connection to the AdwareAnalyzerPrivilegedHelper tool and execute shell scripts with root user privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Kromtech MacKeeper 3.20.4
Affected Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by establishing a connection to the AdwareAnalyzerPrivilegedHelper tool, enabling the execution of shell scripts with root user privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-10171, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or uninstall Kromtech MacKeeper 3.20.4 if not essential
Monitor for any unauthorized system modifications

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and operating systems
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict access

Patching and Updates

Check for security patches or updates from the vendor
Apply patches promptly to mitigate the vulnerability