Panda Security DLL Hijacking

`Hi @ll,  
  
the executable installers PANDAIS16.exe, PANDAAP16.exe,  
PANDAGL16.exe and PANDAGP16.exe available from  
<www.pandasecurity.com> load and execute (at least) UXTheme.dll,  
RichEd20.dll and RichEd32.dll from their "application directory".  
  
For software downloaded with a web browser the application  
directory is typically the user's "Downloads" directory: see  
<https://insights.sei.cmu.edu/cert/2008/09/carpet-bombing-and-directory-poisoning.html>,  
<http://blog.acrossecurity.com/2012/02/downloads-folder-binary-planting.html>  
and <http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2012/Aug/134>  
  
  
If an attacker places the above named DLLs in the users "Downloads"  
directory (for example per drive-by download or social engineering)  
this vulnerability becomes a remote code execution.  
  
Due to the application manifest embedded in the executables which  
specifies "requireAdministrator" the executable installer is run  
with administrative privileges ("protected" administrators are  
prompted for consent, unprivileged standard users are prompted for  
an administrator password); execution of the DLLs therefore results  
in an escalation of privilege!  
  
  
Proof of concept/demonstration:  
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
  
1. visit <http://home.arcor.de/skanthak/sentinel.html>, download  
<http://home.arcor.de/skanthak/download/SENTINEL.DLL>, save it  
as UXTheme.dll in your "Downloads" directory, then copy it as  
RichEd20.dll and RichEd32.dll;  
  
2. download PANDA{IS,AP,GL,GP}16.exe and save it in your "Downloads"  
directory;  
  
3. run PANDA{IS,AP,GL,GP}16.exe per double-click from your "Downloads"  
directory;  
  
4. notice the message boxes displayed from the DLLs placed in step 1.  
  
PWNED!  
  
  
See <http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2015/Nov/101> and  
<http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2015/Dec/86> as well as  
<http://home.arcor.de/skanthak/!execute.html> and  
<http://home.arcor.de/skanthak/sentinel.html> for details about  
this well-known and well-documented BEGINNER'S error!  
  
  
regards  
Stefan Kanthak  
  
  
PS: I really LOVE (security) software with such trivial beginner's  
errors. It's a tell-tale sign to stay away from this crapware!  
  
  
Timeline:  
~~~~~~~~~  
  
2015-12-29 sent report to vendor  
  
NP ANSWER, not even an acknowledgement of receipt  
  
2016-01-10 resent report to vendor  
  
NO ANSWER, not even an acknowledgement of receipt  
  
2016-01-19 report published  
`