CAPEC-38: Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths
Description
This pattern of attack sees an adversary load a malicious resource into a program's standard path so that when a known command is executed then the system instead executes the malicious component. The adversary can either modify the search path a program uses, like a PATH variable or classpath, or they can manipulate resources on the path to point to their malicious components. J2EE applications and other component based applications that are built from multiple binaries can have very long list of dependencies to execute. If one of these libraries and/or references is controllable by the attacker then application controls can be circumvented by the attacker.
- Likelihood of attack
- High
- Typical severity
- Very High
- Abstraction
- DetailedA low-level, detailed pattern, often for a particular technology.
Mechanism of attack: Engage in Deceptive Interactions
Prerequisites
- The attacker must be able to write to redirect search paths on the victim host.
Skills required
- LowTo identify and execute against an over-privileged system interface
Consequences
- ConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
Execute Unauthorized Commands
Run Arbitrary Code
- ConfidentialityAccess ControlAuthorization
Gain Privileges
Mitigations
- Design: Enforce principle of least privilege
- Design: Ensure that the program's compound parts, including all system dependencies, classpath, path, and so on, are secured to the same or higher level assurance as the program
- Implementation: Host integrity monitoring
Related weaknesses (CWE)
ATT&CK techniques (CAPEC taxonomy mapping)
Across MITRE's defensive frameworks
Linked through the 1 ATT&CK technique above.
Counter with D3FEND
Defensive techniques MITRE D3FEND maps to the same ATT&CK techniques.
- D3-SICASystem Init Config Analysis1 shared
- D3-SBVService Binary Verification1 shared
- D3-SFASystem File Analysis1 shared
- D3-AVEAsset Vulnerability Enumeration1 shared
- D3-RSRestore Software1 shared
- D3-SWISoftware Inventory1 shared
- D3-SUSoftware Update1 shared
- D3-DADynamic Analysis1 shared
- D3-EFAEmulated File Analysis1 shared
- D3-CIConfiguration Inventory1 shared
- D3-RCRestore Configuration1 shared
- D3-EALExecutable Allowlisting1 shared
Detect with CAR
MITRE CAR analytics that cover the same ATT&CK techniques.
- CAR-2014-07-001Service Search Path Interception1 shared
- CAR-2021-11-001Registry Edit with Creation of SafeDllSearchMode Key Set to 01 shared
- CAR-2014-02-001Service Binary Modifications1 shared
- CAR-2013-03-001Reg.exe called from Command Shell1 shared
- CAR-2020-05-003Rare LolBAS Command Lines1 shared
- CAR-2013-01-002Autorun Differences1 shared
- CAR-2013-04-002Quick execution of a series of suspicious commands1 shared