Citrix Gateway Windows Plugin: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2022-21827 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in Citrix Gateway Windows Plugin, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected Citrix Gateway Windows Plugin versions: Citrix Gateway Plug-in for Windows versions before 21.9.1.2. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.18% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Gateway Plug-in to 21.9.1.2 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on support.citrix.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citrix Gateway Windows Plugin | Citrix Gateway Windows Plugin | Citrix Gateway Plug-in for Windows versions before 21.9.1.2 | Not stated |
| Citrix | Gateway Plug-in | before 21.9.1.2 | 21.9.1.2 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.1 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 2.0 | 6.6 | Medium | NVD |
Official description
An improper privilege vulnerability has been discovered in Citrix Gateway Plug-in for Windows (Citrix Secure Access for Windows) <21.9.1.2 what could allow an attacker who has gained local access to a computer with Citrix Gateway Plug-in installed, to corrupt or delete files as SYSTEM.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
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