CVE-2024-5292
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on systems running D-Link Network Assistant. Attackers with low-privileged access can exploit an uncontrolled search path element in the DNACore service to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. Only users of D-Link Network Assistant are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- D-Link Network Assistant
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full SYSTEM compromise allowing complete control of the system, installation of persistent malware, credential theft, and lateral movement.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation from a standard user account to SYSTEM privileges, enabling installation of additional malware or persistence mechanisms.
If Mitigated
Limited to user-level access if proper privilege separation and application control are implemented.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access and ability to write to an unsecured file location. The vulnerability is in how the service loads files.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Check D-Link advisory for specific patched version
Vendor Advisory: https://supportannouncement.us.dlink.com/announcement/publication.aspx?name=SAP10380
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check D-Link advisory for affected versions. 2. Download and install the latest version of D-Link Network Assistant from official D-Link website. 3. Restart the system to ensure the updated DNACore service is running.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Remove or disable D-Link Network Assistant
windowsUninstall the software if not required, or disable the DNACore service
sc stop DNACore
sc config DNACore start= disabled
Restrict file permissions
windowsApply strict ACLs to prevent unauthorized users from writing to the vulnerable file location
icacls "C:\path\to\vulnerable\location" /deny Users:(W)
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Uninstall D-Link Network Assistant if not essential for operations
- Implement application control policies to block execution of D-Link Network Assistant components
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if D-Link Network Assistant is installed and running the DNACore service (sc query DNACore)Check Version:
Check Add/Remove Programs or query registry: reg query "HKLM\Software\D-Link\Network Assistant" /v VersionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify D-Link Network Assistant version is updated to patched version and DNACore service is running from secure location📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected file creation in application directories by non-SYSTEM users
- DNACore service loading DLLs from unusual locations
- Process creation events showing privilege escalation from user to SYSTEM
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local privilege escalation
SIEM Query:
EventID=4688 AND NewProcessName="*DNACore*" AND SubjectUserName!="SYSTEM" AND TokenElevationType="%%1938"