Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a DLL search order hijacking issue in Hubstaff versions 1.6.13 and 1.6.14. The application expects a DLL named wow64log.dll in the system32 directory, but this DLL is missing. An attacker can place a malicious DLL with the same name in that directory. When Hubstaff starts, it loads this malicious DLL instead, allowing the attacker to execute code, such as opening a reverse shell to control the system. [2, 3]

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Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can allow an attacker with local access to escalate privileges and gain control over the affected system by executing arbitrary code through the malicious DLL. Specifically, the attacker can obtain a reverse shell with system-level access, potentially compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system and data. [2, 3]

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Detection Guidance

You can detect this vulnerability by checking if the system32 directory is missing the wow64log.dll file, which Hubstaff requires. On a Windows system, you can run the command: 'dir C:\Windows\System32\wow64log.dll' to verify if the DLL is present. Additionally, monitoring for unexpected DLL files named wow64log.dll in the system32 directory or unusual reverse shell connections (e.g., via netcat listeners) can help detect exploitation attempts. Using tools like 'netstat' to check for suspicious outbound connections or scanning for the presence of malicious DLLs can also be useful. [2, 3]

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Mitigation Strategies

Immediate mitigation steps include ensuring that the legitimate wow64log.dll is present in the system32 directory to prevent attackers from placing a malicious DLL. If the DLL is missing, restore it from a trusted source or reinstall Hubstaff properly. Restrict write permissions to the system32 directory to prevent unauthorized DLL placement. Additionally, monitor and block suspicious network connections that may indicate reverse shell activity. Applying any available patches or updates from Hubstaff is also recommended. [2, 3]

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