CVE-2021-36002 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Adobe Captivate version 11.5.5 (and earlier) is affected by a vulnerability that could lead to privilege escalation. The attacker needs to plant a malicious file and requires user interaction for exploitation.

Understanding CVE-2021-36002

This CVE pertains to an issue in Adobe Captivate Installer that allows an attacker to exploit a directory traversal vulnerability to escalate privileges.

What is CVE-2021-36002?

CVE-2021-36002 is a vulnerability in Adobe Captivate version 11.5.5 and earlier that enables an attacker to perform privilege escalation by planting a malicious file in a specific location on the victim's machine.

The Impact of CVE-2021-36002

The vulnerability poses a medium-severity risk, with a CVSS base score of 5. It has a high integrity impact but does not affect confidentiality or availability. The attack complexity is low, with user interaction required.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-36002

This section covers the specific technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves the creation of temporary files with incorrect permissions, leading to privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Adobe Captivate version 11.5.5 and earlier are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation of CVE-2021-36002 requires the attacker to plant a malicious file in a particular location on the victim's machine and necessitates user interaction for the victim to launch the Captivate Installer.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2021-36002 involves immediate steps and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update Adobe Captivate to the latest version available and avoid interacting with untrusted files or programs.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing least privilege access, regular security updates, and security awareness training can help prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released patches to address this vulnerability. Users are advised to apply the necessary updates promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.