CVE-2020-10551 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

QQBrowser before 10.5.3870.400 installs a Windows service TsService.exe that is vulnerable to privilege escalation.

Understanding CVE-2020-10551

What is CVE-2020-10551?

QQBrowser before version 10.5.3870.400 is affected by a vulnerability that allows local attackers to escalate privileges to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM.

The Impact of CVE-2020-10551

The vulnerability enables local attackers to write a malicious executable to the TsService location, leading to privilege escalation to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-10551

Vulnerability Description

QQBrowser before 10.5.3870.400 installs a Windows service TsService.exe that is writable by any user in the NT AUTHORITY\Authenticated Users group.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: QQBrowser
Vendor: N/A
Versions: N/A

Exploitation Mechanism

Local attackers can abuse the writable TsService.exe to escalate privileges to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM by placing a malicious executable in the TsService location.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Restrict access to TsService.exe to prevent unauthorized modifications.
Monitor system for any suspicious activity related to TsService.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update QQBrowser to the latest version to patch known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and security updates provided by the vendor to address the privilege escalation vulnerability in QQBrowser.