CVE-2002-2063 in Personal Firewall
Summary
by MITRE
AtGuard 3.2 allows remote attackers to bypass firwall filters and execute prohibited programs by changing the filenames to permitted filenames.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-2063 affects AtGuard 3.2, a network security application designed to protect systems from unauthorized access and malicious activities. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the application's filtering mechanisms that directly impacts the integrity of the firewall protection it provides. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's file name validation process, which is a fundamental component of network security controls designed to prevent execution of unauthorized programs.
The technical flaw in AtGuard 3.2 stems from inadequate input validation and filename filtering mechanisms that fail to properly verify the legitimacy of file names submitted to the system. Attackers can exploit this weakness by renaming malicious executables to match filenames that are permitted by the firewall's whitelist configuration. This technique allows unauthorized programs to bypass the security controls that should prevent their execution, effectively rendering the firewall protection ineffective against targeted attacks. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where file name validation should occur, making it a classic example of improper access control implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of systems protected by AtGuard 3.2. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute prohibited programs without detection, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability enables attackers to circumvent network security controls that are specifically designed to prevent unauthorized program execution, creating a backdoor that can be exploited repeatedly without requiring additional privileges or access methods. This type of attack directly violates the principle of least privilege and can result in severe consequences including unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which addresses issues related to path traversal and file name validation failures. The attack pattern also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables adversaries to execute malicious code through legitimate system processes. Additionally, this weakness demonstrates characteristics of privilege escalation and execution bypass techniques that are commonly exploited in advanced persistent threat campaigns. Organizations implementing such security controls must recognize that effective file name validation requires robust input sanitization and comprehensive verification processes that cannot be circumvented through simple renaming techniques.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper file name validation controls that go beyond simple whitelist filtering. Security administrators should deploy enhanced input validation mechanisms that verify file integrity, check file signatures, and implement multi-factor authentication for program execution. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, intrusion detection systems, and regular security audits to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The solution requires a comprehensive approach to file validation that includes both application-level controls and network-level monitoring to ensure that legitimate security controls remain effective against sophisticated attack techniques.