CVE-2022-23511 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2022-23511, a privilege escalation issue in the Amazon CloudWatch Agent for Windows.

Understanding CVE-2022-23511

CVE-2022-23511 is a vulnerability in the Amazon CloudWatch Agent for Windows, allowing users to escalate privileges on affected hosts when triggering a repair of the agent.

What is CVE-2022-23511?

The issue exists in versions up to and including v1.247354 of the CloudWatch Agent for Windows. When users initiate a repair, a pop-up window opens with SYSTEM permissions, enabling users with administrative access to create a new command prompt as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM.

The Impact of CVE-2022-23511

Users with administrative access to affected hosts can exploit this vulnerability to elevate their privileges, posing a security risk to the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-23511

This section outlines the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The privilege escalation issue in the CloudWatch Agent for Windows allows unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges when triggering an agent repair process.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects the Amazon CloudWatch Agent for Windows versions up to and including v1.247354. It does not impact the CloudWatch Agent for macOS or Linux.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this issue, a third party must have access to the affected host, escalate their privileges, and trigger the agent repair process. They also need to install the necessary tools to exploit the vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

In order to address CVE-2022-23511, users are advised to take immediate steps, implement long-term security practices, and apply necessary patches and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Affected users should upgrade to version 1.247355 of the CloudWatch Agent to mitigate the privilege escalation issue.

Long-Term Security Practices

To enhance security posture, users are encouraged to follow best practices for privilege management and access control.

Patching and Updates

It is essential for affected users to update the installed version of the CloudWatch Agent to address CVE-2022-23511 and prevent potential security breaches.