CVE-2003-1443 in Kaspersky
Summary
by MITRE
Kaspersky Antivirus (KAV) 4.0.9.0 does not detect viruses in files with MS-DOS device names in their filenames, which allows local users to bypass virus protection, as demonstrated using aux.vbs and aux.com.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1443 represents a critical flaw in Kaspersky Antivirus version 4.0.9.0 that fundamentally undermines the software's ability to provide effective malware protection. This weakness specifically targets the antivirus engine's file name parsing mechanism, creating a significant bypass opportunity for malicious actors who understand the intricacies of ms-dos device naming conventions. The vulnerability exploits the fact that KAV fails to properly analyze files that utilize device names such as aux, con, prn, nul, and com1 through com9 as part of their file naming structure, allowing malicious code to evade detection entirely.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from how Kaspersky Antivirus processes file paths and names during scan operations. In ms-dos and windows operating systems, certain names are reserved as device names and have special handling within the file system. When a file is named with one of these reserved device names, the operating system treats them differently than regular files, often with special device handling mechanisms. The antivirus software in question does not properly account for this special handling when scanning files, instead treating these device names as regular file names and failing to apply virus detection algorithms to the actual file contents. This creates a scenario where malicious files named with device names can bypass the entire antivirus scanning process without any detection or alert generation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on Kaspersky Antivirus 4.0.9.0 for protection. The specific demonstration using aux.vbs and aux.com files shows that attackers can easily exploit this weakness by simply renaming malicious payloads with device names that the antivirus fails to recognize. Local users with access to the system can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code without fear of detection, essentially rendering the antivirus protection ineffective against these targeted attacks. This bypass capability significantly undermines the security posture of affected systems and creates potential entry points for more sophisticated attacks that could escalate to full system compromise.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and demonstrates how inadequate input validation can create security holes in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving bypassing security controls and privilege escalation through file system manipulation. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires no external network connectivity or complex exploitation methods - simply renaming a file with a device name is sufficient to bypass protection. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to newer versions of Kaspersky Antivirus that properly handle device names, implementing additional file system monitoring, and establishing strict file naming policies that prevent the use of reserved device names in executable contexts.
This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of thorough input validation and proper handling of system-reserved names in security software applications. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation details in file system processing can create significant security weaknesses that can be easily exploited by adversaries. The impact extends beyond simple malware evasion to represent a fundamental failure in the antivirus engine's core functionality, potentially allowing for more sophisticated attacks that leverage file system manipulation techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security monitoring to detect unusual file system activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on file name patterns that include device names, as this represents a known attack vector that can be easily automated and deployed at scale.