CVE-2005-1719 in Avast Antivirus
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in ALWIL avast! antivirus 4 (4.6.6230) and earlier, when running on Windows NT 4.0, does not properly detect certain viruses.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1719 represents a significant security flaw in ALWIL avast! antivirus version 4.6.6230 and earlier implementations running on Windows NT 4.0 operating systems. This issue falls under the broader category of antivirus evasion techniques where security software fails to properly identify malicious code patterns, creating a dangerous gap in endpoint protection. The vulnerability specifically affects the detection algorithms within the antivirus engine, which are designed to identify and neutralize various types of malware including viruses that target Windows NT 4.0 systems. Windows NT 4.0, being an older operating system with limited security features and outdated kernel structures, presents unique challenges for modern antivirus solutions that must adapt to legacy system architectures while maintaining robust threat detection capabilities.
The technical flaw manifests in the antivirus software's inability to properly analyze and classify specific virus families or variants when operating on Windows NT 4.0 platforms. This detection failure occurs due to inadequate signature databases, flawed heuristic analysis mechanisms, or insufficient behavioral monitoring capabilities within the avast! antivirus implementation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a legacy operating system that, while deprecated, was still in use in many enterprise environments during the mid-2000s period. This represents a classic case of security software failing to maintain adequate detection coverage for older platforms that may not receive regular security updates, creating a persistent threat vector that attackers could exploit to bypass security controls. The flaw operates at the application layer of the security stack, specifically within the antivirus engine's threat identification and classification modules, which are typically classified under CWE-254 as "Security Features" vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple missed detections, as it creates a false sense of security for users running affected systems. Organizations relying on avast! antivirus for protection on Windows NT 4.0 systems may experience successful malware infections that would otherwise have been prevented through proper antivirus functionality. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004, which covers "Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion," as the lack of detection means that malicious files can persist on systems without being identified or quarantined. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of maintaining comprehensive threat detection across multiple platform versions, particularly when legacy systems remain operational. Attackers could exploit this gap to deploy targeted malware that specifically targets the detection weaknesses in older antivirus implementations, potentially leading to system compromise, data exfiltration, or further network infiltration. The impact is amplified in enterprise environments where Windows NT 4.0 systems may still be operational due to legacy applications or critical business processes that have not been migrated to newer platforms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate system updates and patches where available, though given the age of the affected software, such updates may not be feasible. Organizations should implement additional security layers including network-based intrusion detection systems, application whitelisting, and regular security audits to compensate for the detection gap. The recommended approach includes migrating legacy systems to supported platforms when possible, as Windows NT 4.0 reached end-of-life in 2004 and no longer receives security updates from Microsoft. Security teams should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify malicious behavior regardless of traditional signature-based detection failures. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining comprehensive security coverage across all system platforms and the necessity of regular security assessments to identify and address detection gaps in antivirus implementations. Organizations should also establish clear policies for supporting legacy systems and ensure that appropriate compensating controls are in place to protect against known vulnerabilities in older security software implementations.