CVE-2019-5629 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

The Rapid7 Insight Agent, versions 2.6.3 and earlier, has a vulnerability that allows for local privilege escalation due to an uncontrolled DLL search path.

Understanding CVE-2019-5629

This CVE involves a security issue in the Rapid7 Insight Agent that could lead to unauthorized local users gaining SYSTEM privileges.

What is CVE-2019-5629?

The vulnerability in Rapid7 Insight Agent versions 2.6.3 and prior allows a local user to exploit the DLL search path, potentially escalating their privileges to gain unauthorized access.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5629

The vulnerability has a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with a CVSS base score of 7.8, indicating a high severity level.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5629

The following technical details provide insight into the vulnerability and its implications.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from an uncontrolled DLL search path in Insight Agent 2.6.3 and earlier, enabling a local user to load python3.dll from a writable location, leading to privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Insight Agent
Vendor: Rapid7
Versions Affected: 2.6.3 and prior

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows a locally authenticated user to manipulate the startup conditions of Insight Agent to elevate their privileges to SYSTEM level.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2019-5629, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update all Insight Agent instances to version 2.6.5 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update Insight Agent versions to ensure the latest security patches are applied.

Patching and Updates

Rapid7 has released version 2.6.4 of the Insight Agent, which addresses the vulnerability. Ensure all instances are updated to this version or higher.