CVE-2020-12891 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

AMD Radeon Software and Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise are vulnerable to DLL Hijacking through the path variable, potentially allowing an unprivileged user to plant malicious DLL files.

Understanding CVE-2020-12891

This CVE involves a vulnerability in AMD Radeon Software and Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise that could be exploited through DLL Hijacking.

What is CVE-2020-12891?

AMD Radeon Software and Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise are susceptible to DLL Hijacking, enabling an unprivileged user to insert a malicious DLL file into any location within the path environment variable.

The Impact of CVE-2020-12891

The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized execution of arbitrary code, compromising the affected systems' integrity and confidentiality.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-12891

This section provides in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit DLL Hijacking in AMD Radeon Software and Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Products: Radeon Software, Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise
Vendor: AMD
Vulnerable Versions:
Radeon Software: Radeon Driver version less than 21.4.1
Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise: Enterprise Driver version less than 21.Q2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises from the ability of an unprivileged user to place a malicious DLL file in a location specified in the path environment variable, leading to potential exploitation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-12891 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update AMD Radeon Software and Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise to the latest secure versions.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities related to DLL loading.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement least privilege access controls to limit user capabilities.
Regularly review and update the path environment variable to prevent unauthorized DLL loading.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by AMD to address the DLL Hijacking vulnerability in Radeon Software and Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise.