CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-22282NVD status: Modified

WAB-MAT: Unquoted Search Path or Element

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-22282 is a high-severity unquoted search path or element vulnerability in WAB-MAT from Elecom, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.3 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. Affected WAB-MAT versions: Ver.5.0.0.8 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.2% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of WAB-MAT you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on elecom.co.jp for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
ELECOMWAB-MATVer.5.0.0.8 and earlierNot stated

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
RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
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:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.3HighNVD
CVSS 3.17.3HighCISA (ADP)

Official description

WAB-MAT Ver.5.0.0.8 and earlier starts another program with an unquoted file path. Since a registered Windows service path contains spaces and are unquoted, if a malicious executable is placed on a certain path, the executable may be executed with the privilege of the Windows service.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Unquoted Search Path or Element

The product uses a search path that contains an unquoted element, in which the element contains whitespace or other separators. This can cause the product to access resources in a parent path.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Properly quote the full search path before executing a program on the system.
  • Inputs should be decoded and canonicalized to the application's current internal representation before being validated (CWE-180). Make sure that the application does not decode the same input twice (CWE-174). Such errors could be used to bypass allowlist validation schemes by introducing dangerous inputs after they have been checked.

More Unquoted Search Path or Element vulnerabilities (CWE-428)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Recent Unquoted Search Path or Element vulnerabilities

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