CVE-2018-10646 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A SYSTEM privilege escalation vulnerability has been discovered in CyberGhost 6.5.0.3180 for Windows, allowing attackers to execute code under the SYSTEM user's context.

Understanding CVE-2018-10646

What is CVE-2018-10646?

This CVE refers to a privilege escalation vulnerability in CyberGhost 6.5.0.3180 for Windows related to the "CG6Service" service, enabling attackers to take control of the OpenVPN command line.

The Impact of CVE-2018-10646

The vulnerability allows attackers to execute code under the SYSTEM user's context whenever a new VPN connection attempt is made, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control of the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-10646

Vulnerability Description

CyberGhost 6.5.0.3180 for Windows suffers from a SYSTEM privilege escalation vulnerability through the "CG6Service" service.
The service establishes a NetNamedPipe endpoint that allows arbitrary installed applications to connect and call publicly exposed methods.
The "ConnectToVpnServer" method accepts a "connectionParams" argument that provides attacker control of the OpenVPN command line.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: CyberGhost 6.5.0.3180 for Windows
Vendor: CyberGhost
Version: 6.5.0.3180

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can specify a dynamic library plugin that runs for every new VPN connection attempt, executing code in the context of the SYSTEM user.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or restrict access to the affected service or application.
Implement the principle of least privilege to limit user access rights.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by the vendor to mitigate the vulnerability.