CVE-2020-5316 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Dell SupportAssist for Business PCs and Home PCs versions contain an uncontrolled search path vulnerability that could allow a locally authenticated low privileged user to execute arbitrary code.

Understanding CVE-2020-5316

Dell SupportAssist software versions are affected by a critical vulnerability that could lead to the execution of arbitrary code by an attacker with low privileges.

What is CVE-2020-5316?

CVE-2020-5316 is a vulnerability in Dell SupportAssist software that allows a locally authenticated user to load arbitrary DLLs, resulting in the execution of unauthorized code.

The Impact of CVE-2020-5316

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.8, indicating a high severity level. It can lead to the execution of arbitrary code by a low privileged user, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-5316

Dell SupportAssist software versions are susceptible to an uncontrolled search path vulnerability, enabling the loading of arbitrary DLLs by the SupportAssist binaries.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Dell SupportAssist allows a locally authenticated low privileged user to exploit an uncontrolled search path, leading to the execution of arbitrary code.

Affected Systems and Versions

Dell SupportAssist for Business PCs versions 2.0 to 2.1.3
Dell SupportAssist for Home PCs versions 2.0 to 3.4

Exploitation Mechanism

A locally authenticated low privileged user can exploit the vulnerability to load arbitrary DLLs by the SupportAssist binaries, resulting in the execution of unauthorized code.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take:

Update Dell SupportAssist to the latest version
Monitor for any unusual activities on the system Long-Term Security Practices:
Regularly update software and firmware
Implement least privilege access controls
Conduct security training and awareness programs
Patching and Updates: Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates to mitigate the vulnerability.