CVE-2003-1444 in Kaspersky
Summary
by MITRE
Kaspersky Antivirus (KAV) 4.0.9.0 allows local users to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption or crash) and prevent malicious code from being detected via a file with a long pathname.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1444 affects Kaspersky Antivirus version 4.0.9.0 and represents a significant denial of service weakness that can be exploited by local users to disrupt system operations. This flaw specifically manifests when the antivirus software encounters files with excessively long pathnames, creating a scenario where the system's processing resources become consumed or the application crashes entirely. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the antivirus scanning mechanism, which fails to properly handle extended pathname lengths that exceed normal operational parameters. This issue falls under the category of improper input validation as classified by CWE-20, where the software does not adequately sanitize or limit the length of pathname inputs during file processing operations. The impact extends beyond simple system disruption as it also compromises the antivirus software's ability to detect malicious code, creating a dangerous situation where the security solution becomes ineffective against threats.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the way Kaspersky Antivirus processes file paths during scan operations. When a file with an exceptionally long pathname is encountered, the antivirus engine attempts to process the full path string without proper bounds checking or length limitations. This leads to excessive CPU consumption as the system iterates through the extended path components, potentially causing the antivirus service to become unresponsive or crash entirely. The flaw operates at the system level where the antivirus engine's file handling routines do not implement proper path length validation, allowing malicious or accidental long pathnames to trigger resource exhaustion. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which describes denial of service attacks targeting system resources, and specifically targets the availability aspect of the CIA triad. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow or resource exhaustion pattern where the system's processing capabilities are consumed beyond normal operational limits, effectively rendering the antivirus protection ineffective.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates a critical security gap that local attackers can exploit to both disrupt system functionality and compromise security monitoring capabilities. The denial of service aspect affects system availability by consuming CPU resources or causing application crashes, while the secondary impact prevents the antivirus from performing its core function of malware detection. This creates a scenario where an attacker could simultaneously disable system security measures and potentially gain unauthorized access to the system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no elevated privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any local user account. Organizations running Kaspersky Antivirus 4.0.9.0 are at risk of experiencing system instability, performance degradation, and potential security breaches when this vulnerability is actively exploited. The impact extends to enterprise environments where antivirus systems are critical for maintaining security posture and preventing malware infections.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-1444 should focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to a newer version of Kaspersky Antivirus that addresses this input validation flaw and implements proper pathname length restrictions. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual CPU consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact of local user exploitation. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting and enhanced file system monitoring to detect and prevent the creation of files with excessive pathnames. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in security software and demonstrates how seemingly benign flaws can create significant operational and security risks. Regular vulnerability assessments and patch management processes should include verification of antivirus software versions to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses. Security teams should also implement incident response procedures specifically designed to address denial of service attacks targeting security applications, ensuring that system availability is maintained even when facing such vulnerabilities.