This site is the archived OWASP Foundation Wiki and is no longer accepting Account Requests.
To view the new OWASP Foundation website, please visit https://owasp.org

Difference between revisions of "Binary planting"

From OWASP
Jump to: navigation, search
(References)
m
 
(One intermediate revision by one other user not shown)
Line 5: Line 5:
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
  
[[Binary planting]] is a general term for an attack where the attacker places (i.e., plants) a binary file containing malicious code to some local or remote file system location in order for a vulnerable application to load and execute it.
+
[[Binary planting]] is a general term for an attack where the attacker places (i.e., plants) a binary file containing malicious code to a local or remote file system in order for a vulnerable application to load and execute it.
  
There can be various reasons why an application would load a malicious binary:
+
There are various ways this attack can occur:
  
# Insecure access permissions on a local directory allow a local attacker to plant the malicious binary in a trusted location. (A typical example is an application installer not properly setting access permissions on application directories.)
+
# Insecure access permissions on a local directory allow a local attacker to plant the malicious binary in a trusted location. (A typical example is an application installer not properly configuring permissions on directories used to store application files.)
# One application may be used for planting a malicious binary in another application's trusted location. (An example is the Internet Explorer - Safari blended threat vulnerability)
+
# One application may be used for planting a malicious binary in another application's trusted location. (An example is the [http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/advisory/953818 Internet Explorer - Safari blended threat vulnerability] )
 
# The application searches for a binary in untrusted locations, possibly on remote file systems. (A typical example is a Windows application loading a dynamic link library from the current working directory after the latter has been set to a network shared folder.)
 
# The application searches for a binary in untrusted locations, possibly on remote file systems. (A typical example is a Windows application loading a dynamic link library from the current working directory after the latter has been set to a network shared folder.)
  
Line 57: Line 57:
 
==Related [[Controls]]==
 
==Related [[Controls]]==
  
TBD
+
* Access Controls
 +
* File Integrity Checking
  
  
Line 65: Line 66:
 
* [http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/510426 Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability in iTunes for Windows] - example of  Insecure Access Permissions-based Attack
 
* [http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/510426 Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability in iTunes for Windows] - example of  Insecure Access Permissions-based Attack
 
* [http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/513190 Remote Binary Planting in Apple iTunes for Windows] - example of Current Working Directroy-based Attack  
 
* [http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/513190 Remote Binary Planting in Apple iTunes for Windows] - example of Current Working Directroy-based Attack  
 +
* http://365.rsaconference.com/servlet/JiveServlet/previewBody/3034-102-1-4071/HTA-206%20-%20Remote%20Binary%20Planting%20%E2%80%93%20An%20Overlooked%20Vulnerability%20Affair.pdf
 +
__NOTOC__
  
__NOTOC__
+
[[Category:Attack]]

Latest revision as of 02:58, 31 January 2013

This is an Attack. To view all attacks, please see the Attack Category page.


Last revision (mm/dd/yy): 01/31/2013

Description

Binary planting is a general term for an attack where the attacker places (i.e., plants) a binary file containing malicious code to a local or remote file system in order for a vulnerable application to load and execute it.

There are various ways this attack can occur:

  1. Insecure access permissions on a local directory allow a local attacker to plant the malicious binary in a trusted location. (A typical example is an application installer not properly configuring permissions on directories used to store application files.)
  2. One application may be used for planting a malicious binary in another application's trusted location. (An example is the Internet Explorer - Safari blended threat vulnerability )
  3. The application searches for a binary in untrusted locations, possibly on remote file systems. (A typical example is a Windows application loading a dynamic link library from the current working directory after the latter has been set to a network shared folder.)


Risk Factors

TBD

Examples

Insecure Access Permissions-based Attack

  1. A Windows application installer creates a root directory (C:\Application) and installs the application in it, but fails to limit write access to the directory for non-privileged users.
  2. Suppose the application (C:\Application\App.exe) loads the WININET.DLL library by calling LoadLibrary("WININET.DLL"). This library is expected to be found in the Windows System32 folder.
  3. Local user A plants a malicious WININET.DLL library in C:\Application
  4. Local user B launches the application, which loads and executes the malicious WININET.DLL instead of the legitimate one.

Current Working Directroy-based Attack

  1. Suppose a Windows application loads the DWMAPI.DLL library by calling LoadLibrary("DWMAPI.DLL"). This library is expected to be found in the Windows System32 folder, but only exists on Windows Vista and Windows 7.
  2. Suppose the application is associated with the ".bp" file extension.
  3. The attacker sets up a network shared folder and places files honeypot.bp and DWMAPI.DLL in this folder (possibly marking the latter as hidden).
  4. The attacker invites a Windows XP user to visit the shared folder with Windows Explorer.
  5. When the user double-clicks on honeypot.bp, user's Windows Explorer sets the current working directory to the remote share and launches the application for opening the file.
  6. The application tries to load DWMAPI.DLL, but failing to find it in the Windows system directories, it loads and executes it from the attacker's network share.


Related Threat Agents


Related Attacks


Related Vulnerabilities


Related Controls

  • Access Controls
  • File Integrity Checking


References