CVE-2012-4284

A Privilege Escalation vulnerability exists in Viscosity 1.4.1 on Mac OS X due to a path name validation issue in the setuid-set ViscosityHelper binary, which…

published January 10, 2020

Patch now

High probability of exploitation

NVD has not assigned a CVSS score to this record. It sits in the 99.4th percentile for exploit probability.

CVSS
—
EPSS
70%
Percentile
99.4
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A sneaky path name validation flaw in Viscosity 1.4.1 could let a malicious user elevate their privileges like a kid sneaking into the front seat of a car! Think of it like a VIP lounge that has a sign saying 'No entry without proper ID,' but the bouncer is too busy scrolling through his phone to notice someone slipping in without a proper pass. In this case, the setuid-set ViscosityHelper binary is the bouncer that’s not doing its job! If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, giving them the keys to the kingdom! This means they could potentially gain access to sensitive data or control over the affected system. While there’s no confirmed exploitation yet, leaving this issue unaddressed could open the door for future attacks.

Put simply

Think of it like a VIP lounge that has a sign saying 'No entry without proper ID,' but the bouncer is too busy scrolling through his phone to notice someone slipping in without a proper pass. In this case, the setuid-set ViscosityHelper binary is the bouncer that’s not doing its job! This privilege escalation vulnerability arises from inadequate path name validation in the setuid-set ViscosityHelper binary. An attacker could craft a path that allows them to run arbitrary code with elevated rights, bypassing normal user restrictions.

What to do

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, giving them the keys to the kingdom! This means they could potentially gain access to sensitive data or control over the affected system. While there’s no confirmed exploitation yet, leaving this issue unaddressed could open the door for future attacks. To mitigate this risk, ensure that you update to a secure version of Viscosity if available. Monitor for updates and consider limiting access to the ViscosityHelper binary until a fix is released. Regularly review your system's security settings to prevent unauthorized access. 🛡️ You've got this! Stay vigilant and keep your systems updated to maintain security! 🔒✨

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.69523 · 99.4th percentile
Published
2020-01-10T19:09Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 10 JAN 19:09Z
    A Privilege Escalation vulnerability exists in Viscosity 1.4.1 on Mac OS X due to a path name validation issue in the setuid-set ViscosityHelper binary, which…
    cvelistv5