CVE-2018-17980 : What You Need to Know

NoMachine before versions 5.3.27 and 6.x before 6.3.6 is vulnerable to a privilege escalation attack via a malicious wintab32.dll file. Attackers can exploit this by placing the DLL in the same directory as a .nxs file, leading to code execution.

Understanding CVE-2018-17980

NoMachine versions prior to 5.3.27 and 6.x before 6.3.6 are susceptible to a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers.

What is CVE-2018-17980?

NoMachine versions before 5.3.27 and 6.x before 6.3.6 allow attackers to gain privileges through a Trojan horse wintab32.dll file placed in the same directory as a .nxs file. This can result in the execution of malicious code.

The Impact of CVE-2018-17980

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges on affected systems.
Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access and potential system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-17980

NoMachine vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

NoMachine versions prior to 5.3.27 and 6.x before 6.3.6 are susceptible to privilege escalation via a malicious wintab32.dll file placed alongside a .nxs file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions of NoMachine before 5.3.27 and 6.x before 6.3.6.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by placing a malicious wintab32.dll file in the same directory as a .nxs file, leading to the execution of malicious code.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2018-17980 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update NoMachine to versions 5.3.27 or 6.3.6 or later to patch the vulnerability.
Avoid opening .nxs files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Educate users on safe browsing habits and the risks of opening files from unknown sources.

Patching and Updates

NoMachine has released patches in versions 5.3.27 and 6.3.6 to address the vulnerability.