DSA-2020-005: Dell SupportAssist Client Uncontrolled Search Path Vulnerability

Impact

High

Details

Dell SupportAssist for business PCs versions 2.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2, 2.1, 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3 and Dell SupportAssist for home PCs version 2.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2, 2.1, 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.2, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3, 3.0, 3.0.1, 3.0.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.3, 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.4 contain an uncontrolled search path vulnerability. A locally authenticated low privileged user could exploit this vulnerability to cause the loading of arbitrary DLLs by the SupportAssist binaries, resulting in the privileged execution of arbitrary code.

CVSS Base Score: 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)

Dell Technologies recommends all customers consider both the CVSS base score and any relevant temporal and environmental scores that may impact the potential severity associated with a particular security vulnerability.

Affected Products and Remediation

Affected products:

Dell SupportAssist for business PCs version 2.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2, 2.1, 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3

Dell SupportAssist for home PCs version 2.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2, 2.1, 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.2, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3, 3.0, 3.0.1, 3.0.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.3, 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.4

Remediation:

The following Dell SupportAssist for business PCs and Dell SupportAssist for home PCs releases contain a resolution to this vulnerability:

Dell SupportAssist for business PCs version 2.1.4
Dell SupportAssist for home PCs version 3.4.1

Dell recommends all customers upgrade at the earliest opportunity.

Method 1: Auto Update Enabled

All versions of SupportAssist automatically upgrade to the latest version available if automatic upgrades are enabled. Customers can check which version they are running and upgrade to a newer version of SupportAssist if available.

Method 2: Manual Update

Steps for manual update of SupportAssist for home PCs:

Open SupportAssist.
On the top-right corner of the SupportAssist window, click the ‘Settings’ icon, and then click ‘About SupportAssist’. SupportAssist will automatically check if a newer version of SupportAssist is available.

If no update is available, a message indicating that the latest version of SupportAssist is installed are displayed.
If a newer version of SupportAssist is available, the ‘Update Now’ link is displayed.

Upon clicking Update Now, the latest version of SupportAssist is downloaded and installed on the system.

Note: For manual update of SupportAssist for business PCs, please refer to the Dell SupportAssist for business PCs deployment guide for deployment instructions.

Please visit the Dell Drivers & Downloads site for updates on the applicable products.

Customers may use one of the Dell notification solutions to be notified and download driver, BIOS and firmware updates automatically once available.

Affected products:

Dell SupportAssist for business PCs version 2.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2, 2.1, 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3

Dell SupportAssist for home PCs version 2.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2, 2.1, 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.2, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3, 3.0, 3.0.1, 3.0.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.3, 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.4

Remediation:

The following Dell SupportAssist for business PCs and Dell SupportAssist for home PCs releases contain a resolution to this vulnerability:

Dell SupportAssist for business PCs version 2.1.4
Dell SupportAssist for home PCs version 3.4.1

Dell recommends all customers upgrade at the earliest opportunity.

Method 1: Auto Update Enabled

Method 2: Manual Update

Steps for manual update of SupportAssist for home PCs:

Open SupportAssist.
On the top-right corner of the SupportAssist window, click the ‘Settings’ icon, and then click ‘About SupportAssist’. SupportAssist will automatically check if a newer version of SupportAssist is available.

If no update is available, a message indicating that the latest version of SupportAssist is installed are displayed.
If a newer version of SupportAssist is available, the ‘Update Now’ link is displayed.

Upon clicking Update Now, the latest version of SupportAssist is downloaded and installed on the system.

Note: For manual update of SupportAssist for business PCs, please refer to the Dell SupportAssist for business PCs deployment guide for deployment instructions.

Please visit the Dell Drivers & Downloads site for updates on the applicable products.

Customers may use one of the Dell notification solutions to be notified and download driver, BIOS and firmware updates automatically once available.

Acknowledgements

Dell would like to thank Eran Shimony for reporting this vulnerability.

Related Information

Dell Security Advisories and Notices
Dell Vulnerability Response Policy
CVSS Scoring Guide

The information in this Dell Technologies Security Advisory should be read and used to assist in avoiding situations that may arise from the problems described herein. Dell Technologies distributes Security Advisories to bring important security information to the attention of users of the affected product(s). Dell Technologies assesses the risk based on an average of risks across a diverse set of installed systems and may not represent the actual risk to your local installation and individual environment. It is recommended that all users determine the applicability of this information to their individual environments and take appropriate actions. The information set forth herein is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Dell Technologies expressly disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title and non-infringement. In no event shall Dell Technologies, its affiliates or suppliers, be liable for any damages whatsoever arising from or related to the information contained herein or actions that you decide to take based thereon, including any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages, even if Dell Technologies, its affiliates or suppliers have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, so the foregoing limitation shall apply to the extent permissible under law.