CVE-2018-7884 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability was found in the DisplayLink Core Software Cleaner Application 8.2.1956 that allows for DLL Hijacking and privilege escalation.

Understanding CVE-2018-7884

This CVE involves a security issue in the DisplayLink Core Software Cleaner Application 8.2.1956 that can be exploited for privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2018-7884?

The vulnerability in the DisplayLink Core Software Cleaner Application 8.2.1956 allows any user to write a DLL to exploit DLL Hijacking, leading to elevated privileges as SYSTEM.

The Impact of CVE-2018-7884

Exploiting this vulnerability can result in unauthorized users gaining elevated privileges on the affected system, potentially leading to further compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-7884

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue occurs when updating DisplayLink drivers to a newer version, triggering a process that runs as SYSTEM to uninstall the previous version. This process can be abused for DLL Hijacking.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: DisplayLink Core Software Cleaner Application 8.2.1956
Vendor: DisplayLink
Versions: All versions up to 8.2.1956

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows any user to write a DLL, such as version.dll, in the %systemroot%\Temp directory, exploiting DLL Hijacking to gain elevated privileges as SYSTEM.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-7884 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the affected software until a patch is available.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and drivers to the latest versions.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit potential damage.

Patching and Updates

Check for patches or updates from DisplayLink to address the vulnerability.