CVE-2022-4149
Local privilege escalation using log file
- Published
- Updated
- Reserved
- Assigned by
- Netskope
Description
The Netskope client service (prior to R96) on Windows runs as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM which writes log files to a writable directory (C:\Users\Public\netSkope) for a standard user. The files are created and written with a SYSTEM account except one file (logplaceholder) which inherits permission giving all users full access control list. Netskope client restricts access to this file by allowing only read permissions as a standard user. Whenever the Netskope client service restarts, it deletes the logplaceholder and recreates, creating a race condition, which can be exploited by a malicious local user to create the file and set ACL permissions on the file. Once the file is created by a malicious user with proper ACL permissions, all files within C:\Users\Public\netSkope\ becomes modifiable by the unprivileged user. By using Windows pseudo-symlink, these files can be pointed to other places in the system and thus malicious users will be able to elevate privileges.
Scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| NetskopeCNA (assigner) | 3.1 | High7.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVDNVD · Modified | 3.1 | High7.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
- EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)
- 0.16% · top 95% of all CVEs (6 Nov 2026)
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation: none · Automatable: no · Technical impact: total
The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: High 7.0.
Weakness
Affected products
- affected 95, 0
What to do
Solution: Netskope has patched the vulnerability and released a binary with a fix. Customers are recommended to upgrade their Netskope clients to v100 or later. Netskope download Instructions – Download Netskope Client and Scripts – Netskope Support https://support.netskope.com/s/article/Download-Netskope-Client-and-Scripts
Workaround: Netskope recommends using hardening guidelines listed here - – https://docs.netskope.com/en/netskope-client-hardening.html https://docs.netskope.com/en/netskope-client-hardening.html
Exploitation: Netskope is not aware of any public disclosure and exploitation of this vulnerability at the time of publication.
References (1)
Sources
The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.
- CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
- CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
- NVD (opens in a new tab)
- FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
- OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
- GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
- CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)
Badge for a README or a ticket
[](https://trackcve.app/cve/CVE-2022-4149)Record last updated .