CVE-2019-17180 : What You Need to Know

Valve Steam Client before September 12, 2019, had a vulnerability that allowed the placement or addition of partially controlled content to the file system, potentially leading to denial of service, elevation of privilege, or other adverse effects.

Understanding CVE-2019-17180

This CVE entry describes a security vulnerability in the Valve Steam Client that could be exploited to manipulate files on the Windows operating system.

What is CVE-2019-17180?

The CVE-2019-17180 vulnerability in the Valve Steam Client allowed attackers to modify files within the NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM context, potentially resulting in serious consequences such as denial of service or privilege escalation.

The Impact of CVE-2019-17180

Exploiting this vulnerability could lead to denial of service attacks, unauthorized elevation of privileges, or other adverse effects on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-17180

This section provides more detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Valve Steam Client before September 12, 2019, enabled the placement or appending of partially controlled filesystem content, allowing attackers to modify files within the NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM context.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating files on the Windows operating system, specifically within the NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM context, to achieve denial of service, privilege escalation, or other harmful outcomes.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-17180 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Valve Steam Client to the latest version to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious file modifications.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict access rights.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate weaknesses.
Educate users on safe computing practices to prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Valve released a patch on September 12, 2019, addressing the vulnerability in the Steam Client. Ensure all systems are updated to the latest version to mitigate the risk of exploitation.