CVE-2001-0682 in ZoneAlarm
Summary
by MITRE
ZoneAlarm and ZoneAlarm Pro allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service by running a trojan to initialize a ZoneAlarm mutex object which prevents ZoneAlarm from starting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0682 represents a significant denial of service weakness in ZoneAlarm and ZoneAlarm Pro firewall software versions available at the time of discovery. This flaw stems from improper handling of mutex objects within the application's initialization process, creating a pathway for local attackers to disrupt system security operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the Windows operating system environment where ZoneAlarm operates as a network security solution, protecting users from unauthorized network access and potential threats. The attack vector requires local system access, making it a privilege escalation concern that could be exploited by malicious users with existing system presence.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of Windows synchronization primitives through mutex objects that ZoneAlarm uses to ensure single instance operation. When a malicious trojan program initializes a mutex object with the same name as ZoneAlarm's internal mutex, it effectively blocks the legitimate ZoneAlarm process from acquiring the required synchronization object. This race condition scenario prevents the firewall application from completing its startup sequence properly, resulting in complete service unavailability. The flaw demonstrates poor resource management practices and inadequate error handling within the application's startup routine, as the software fails to properly detect or recover from mutex contention scenarios.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a critical security gap that allows attackers to render essential network protection services ineffective. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as ZoneAlarm's failure to start leaves the system completely exposed to network-based threats during the period when the service is unavailable. Security administrators face the challenge of maintaining system integrity while dealing with a vulnerability that can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges beyond local system access. The attack scenario typically involves a trojan program that executes with the same privileges as the legitimate ZoneAlarm process, making detection difficult and exploitation straightforward.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which addresses concurrent execution using shared resources, and demonstrates characteristics similar to race condition vulnerabilities that have been documented in numerous security assessments. The issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1489, which covers denial of service through manipulation of system services, as the attack directly targets the availability of critical security infrastructure. Organizations implementing ZoneAlarm solutions face potential exposure to sophisticated attacks that could exploit this weakness to bypass network security controls entirely. The vulnerability's persistence through system restarts depends on the trojan maintaining its mutex initialization, potentially creating a recurring threat that requires continuous monitoring and remediation efforts.
Recommended mitigations include implementing proper mutex handling with timeout mechanisms and error recovery procedures within the ZoneAlarm application code. System administrators should consider deploying additional endpoint protection measures to detect and prevent the execution of unauthorized trojan programs that could exploit this vulnerability. Regular security updates and patches from ZoneAlarm vendors should be applied immediately upon availability, as the vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in the application's initialization sequence. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual service startup patterns or mutex contention that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, privilege separation and user access controls should be enforced to limit local system access and reduce the attack surface available to potential exploiters.