Overview
Chocolatey Boxstarter fails to properly set ACLs, which can allow an unprivileged Windows user to be able to run arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.
Description
CVE-2020-15264
The Chocolatey Boxstarter installer fails to set a secure access-control list (ACL) on the C:ProgramDataBoxstarter directory, which is added to the system-wide PATH environment variable. A privilege escalation vulnerability is introduced since any location in the system-wide PATH environment variable may be used to load code that runs with privileges.
Impact
By placing a specially-crafted DLL file in the C:ProgramDataBoxstarter directory, an unprivileged user may be able to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges on a Windows system with the vulnerable Boxstarter software installed. See DLL Search Order Hijacking for more details.
Solution
Apply an update
This vulnerability is addressed in Chocolatey Boxstarter version 2.13.0. Please see the security advisory for more details.
Acknowledgements
This vulnerability was reported by Will Dormann of the CERT/CC.
This document was written by Will Dormann.
Vendor Information
One or more vendors are listed for this advisory. Please reference the full report for more information.
References
https://github.com/chocolatey/boxstarter/security/advisories/GHSA-rpgx-h675-r3jf
https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/001/
Other Information
CVE IDs:
208577 chocolatey boxstarter vulnerable privilege escalation
