CVE-2022-31694 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting VMware InstallBuilder Qt installers built with versions prior to 22.10.0. The vulnerability arises from an uncontrolled search path element issue (CWE-427), where the installer attempts to load Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) from the installer binary's parent directory when displaying popups. This behavior can be exploited by an attacker who has local access to a vulnerable system and can place a malicious DLL in the installer's parent directory. When the installer triggers a popup that loads the DLL, the malicious code executes with the privileges of the installer process, which typically runs with elevated or administrative rights. The vulnerability requires local privileges (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), and low privileges (PR:L), but does require user interaction (UI:R) to trigger the popup and load the malicious DLL. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, as the attacker can execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise. No known exploits in the wild have been reported to date. The vulnerability affects all InstallBuilder for Qt versions prior to 22.10.0, which are used to create installers for various software products, including those deployed in enterprise environments. The lack of a patch link suggests that remediation involves upgrading to version 22.10.0 or later, where the DLL search path issue is presumably fixed. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where users have the ability to write to directories adjacent to installer binaries, such as shared workstations or developer machines.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-31694 can be significant, especially in sectors relying heavily on software deployment and installation automation using VMware InstallBuilder Qt installers. Successful exploitation can lead to privilege escalation, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated rights, potentially resulting in data breaches, system manipulation, or disruption of critical services. This is particularly concerning for industries such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government agencies, where software installers are frequently used and elevated privileges can lead to access to sensitive data or critical infrastructure. The requirement for local access and user interaction somewhat limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with shared or poorly secured endpoints. Attackers could leverage social engineering or insider threats to place malicious DLLs. Additionally, the vulnerability could be chained with other exploits to achieve broader network compromise. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future attacks, especially as threat actors often target widely used installer frameworks to maximize impact.

1. Upgrade all VMware InstallBuilder Qt installers to version 22.10.0 or later, where the uncontrolled search path element vulnerability is addressed. 2. Implement strict file system permissions to restrict write access to directories containing installer binaries and their parent directories, preventing unauthorized placement of DLLs. 3. Employ application whitelisting and code integrity policies to detect and block unauthorized DLLs from loading during installer execution. 4. Educate users and administrators about the risks of running installers from untrusted locations and the importance of verifying installer sources. 5. Monitor systems for unusual DLL loading behavior or unexpected installer popups that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. In environments where upgrading is not immediately feasible, consider isolating installer execution within sandboxed or virtualized environments to limit the impact of potential code execution. 7. Regularly audit and review local user privileges to minimize the number of users with the ability to write to sensitive directories or execute installers with elevated rights.