CVE-2001-0789 in Kaspersky Lab
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in avpkeeper in Kaspersky KAV 3.5.135.2 for Sendmail allows remote attacker to cause a denial of service or possibly execute arbitrary code via a malformed mail message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0789 represents a critical format string flaw within the avpkeeper component of Kaspersky KAV 3.5.135.2 email security software. This issue specifically affects the integration between Kaspersky's anti-virus solution and the Sendmail mail transfer agent, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system through crafted email messages. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the avpkeeper module, which processes email content to detect potential threats. When the system encounters a malformed email message containing malicious format specifiers, the application fails to properly handle these inputs, leading to unpredictable behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of format string arguments within the avpkeeper component. Attackers can construct specially crafted email messages that contain format specifiers such as %s, %d, or %x within the message headers or body. When the vulnerable Kaspersky software processes these malformed messages, it attempts to format and display the content without proper sanitization, causing the application to read from memory locations or execute unintended code sequences. This flaw falls under the CWE-134 category of 'Use of Externally-Controlled Format String', which is classified as a high-severity vulnerability due to its potential for both denial of service and arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2001-0789 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can potentially allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems protected by the vulnerable Kaspersky software. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where email servers are exposed to external traffic. Organizations using this specific version of Kaspersky KAV face significant risk of system compromise, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or the installation of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of email security by introducing a potential attack vector that bypasses the intended protection mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected Kaspersky KAV software to version 3.5.135.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the format string handling issue. System administrators should also implement network-level protections such as email filtering rules that can detect and block malformed email content before it reaches the vulnerable software. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious email traffic patterns and maintain comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to address potential system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly when handling user-supplied data in security applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for 'Exploit Public-Facing Application' and T1059 for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter' as potential exploitation paths.