=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= = Advisory: Windows XP Task Scheduler Local Privilege Escalation = = Author: Daniel Hückmann (zipk0der) zipk0der@pandora-security.com = = Released at: http://www.pandora-security.com = =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1. Overview. In Windows XP, the task scheduler service runs as "SYSTEM" (local service); this is akin to running cron as root. Any processes spawned by the task scheduler inherit "SYSTEM" permissions. Using command line tools, we can kill the Windows desktop (explorer.exe) and restart it running under "SYSTEM". Once running under "SYSTEM" we have full control of the machine, and can do things even Administrators can't. Also included is a recommended fix. Read the full paper at the link below. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Direct link to the original paper discussing this issue in detail... http://www.pandora-security.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2093 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Sincerely, Daniel Hückmann - R&D Director, Pandora Security