CVE-2022-41796: Untrusted search path vulnerability in Sony Corporation Content Transfer (for Windows)
Untrusted search path vulnerability in the installer of Content Transfer (for Windows) Ver.1.3 and prior allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2022-41796 is an untrusted search path vulnerability identified in Sony Corporation's Content Transfer software for Windows, specifically affecting versions 1.3 and prior. The vulnerability arises from the installer process of the software, which improperly handles the search path for DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries). This flaw allows an attacker to place a malicious DLL—a Trojan horse—in a directory that the installer searches before the legitimate DLL location. When the installer executes, it loads the attacker's DLL instead of the intended one, leading to privilege escalation. The attacker can thereby execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges on the affected system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element), which typically involves software that does not securely specify the full path to critical resources, allowing attackers to influence which files are loaded. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. The vector details (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicate that the attack requires local access (Local Attack Vector), low attack complexity, no privileges required, but does require user interaction (such as running the installer). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, as the attacker can execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the entire system. No known exploits in the wild have been reported as of the publication date, and no official patches or updates have been linked in the provided data.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially in environments where Sony's Content Transfer software is used to manage media or data transfers on Windows machines. The ability for an attacker to escalate privileges locally can lead to full system compromise, data theft, or disruption of services. Organizations with many endpoints using this software, particularly in sectors with high data sensitivity such as finance, healthcare, and government, could face severe confidentiality breaches and operational impacts. Since the attack requires local access and user interaction, the threat is more pronounced in scenarios where endpoint security is lax, or users might be tricked into running compromised installers or executing files from untrusted directories. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, it may currently be under the radar, but it remains a critical risk if attackers develop and deploy exploit code.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should first identify all Windows systems running Sony Content Transfer version 1.3 or earlier. Since no official patch links are provided, users should check Sony's official support channels for updates or newer versions that address this issue. Until a patch is available, organizations should implement strict endpoint security controls: restrict local user permissions to prevent unauthorized software installation, enforce application whitelisting to block untrusted executables and DLLs, and monitor for suspicious DLL loading behavior. Educate users to avoid running installers or software from untrusted directories or sources. Additionally, implement robust antivirus and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous DLL injection or privilege escalation attempts. Network segmentation and limiting local access can reduce the risk of exploitation. Finally, maintain regular backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential compromises.
Affected Countries
Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Poland
CVE-2022-41796: Untrusted search path vulnerability in Sony Corporation Content Transfer (for Windows)
Description
Untrusted search path vulnerability in the installer of Content Transfer (for Windows) Ver.1.3 and prior allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2022-41796 is an untrusted search path vulnerability identified in Sony Corporation's Content Transfer software for Windows, specifically affecting versions 1.3 and prior. The vulnerability arises from the installer process of the software, which improperly handles the search path for DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries). This flaw allows an attacker to place a malicious DLL—a Trojan horse—in a directory that the installer searches before the legitimate DLL location. When the installer executes, it loads the attacker's DLL instead of the intended one, leading to privilege escalation. The attacker can thereby execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges on the affected system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element), which typically involves software that does not securely specify the full path to critical resources, allowing attackers to influence which files are loaded. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. The vector details (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicate that the attack requires local access (Local Attack Vector), low attack complexity, no privileges required, but does require user interaction (such as running the installer). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, as the attacker can execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the entire system. No known exploits in the wild have been reported as of the publication date, and no official patches or updates have been linked in the provided data.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially in environments where Sony's Content Transfer software is used to manage media or data transfers on Windows machines. The ability for an attacker to escalate privileges locally can lead to full system compromise, data theft, or disruption of services. Organizations with many endpoints using this software, particularly in sectors with high data sensitivity such as finance, healthcare, and government, could face severe confidentiality breaches and operational impacts. Since the attack requires local access and user interaction, the threat is more pronounced in scenarios where endpoint security is lax, or users might be tricked into running compromised installers or executing files from untrusted directories. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, it may currently be under the radar, but it remains a critical risk if attackers develop and deploy exploit code.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should first identify all Windows systems running Sony Content Transfer version 1.3 or earlier. Since no official patch links are provided, users should check Sony's official support channels for updates or newer versions that address this issue. Until a patch is available, organizations should implement strict endpoint security controls: restrict local user permissions to prevent unauthorized software installation, enforce application whitelisting to block untrusted executables and DLLs, and monitor for suspicious DLL loading behavior. Educate users to avoid running installers or software from untrusted directories or sources. Additionally, implement robust antivirus and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous DLL injection or privilege escalation attempts. Network segmentation and limiting local access can reduce the risk of exploitation. Finally, maintain regular backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential compromises.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- jpcert
- Date Reserved
- 2022-10-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Cisa Enriched
- true
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 682d981ac4522896dcbd9618
Added to database: 5/21/2025, 9:08:42 AM
Last enriched: 7/5/2025, 12:55:01 PM
Last updated: 7/28/2025, 10:49:00 PM
Views: 13
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