NT SYSTEM execution via replaceable PostgreSQL binaries
Published Feb 17, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024
Local privilege escalation in Advantech WebAccess/SCADA 9.0.1 allows local users to execute code with NT SYSTEM privileges. The PostgreSQL service runs pg_ctl.exe from a default installation directory whose access controls let authenticated users replace that executable or a DLL it loads. A local authenticated account can plant code in that directory, and the service executes it with full NT SYSTEM authority.
Summary
What happened
Local privilege escalation in Advantech WebAccess/SCADA 9.0.1 allows local users to execute code with NT SYSTEM privileges. The PostgreSQL service runs pg_ctl.exe from a default installation directory whose access controls let authenticated users replace that executable or a DLL it loads. A local authenticated account can plant code in that directory, and the service executes it with full NT SYSTEM authority.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2020-13551
- Published
- Feb 17, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 4, 2024
- Vendor
- Advantech
- Product
- WebAccess/SCADA
- Classifications
- CWE-276, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 17, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=Advantech WebAccess/SCADA 9.0.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Talos PostgreSQL executable and DLL replacement demonstrationproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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