CVE-2005-2932 in zonealarm
Summary
by MITRE
multiple check point zone labs zonealarm products before 7.0.362 including zonealarm security suite 5.5.062.004 and 6.5.737 use insecure default permissions for critical files which allows local users to gain privileges or bypass security controls.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2932 represents a critical access control flaw affecting multiple Check Point Zone Labs ZoneAlarm security products across several versions including the ZoneAlarm Security Suite 5.5.062.004 and 6.5.737. This issue stems from insecure default permissions assigned to critical system files within the ZoneAlarm software ecosystem, creating a fundamental weakness that undermines the security posture of affected systems. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 7.0.362, indicating that Check Point recognized and addressed this weakness in their subsequent releases.
The technical flaw manifests through improper file permission settings that allow local users to manipulate critical security components without appropriate authorization. This insecure default configuration enables attackers with local system access to potentially escalate privileges or circumvent security controls that ZoneAlarm is designed to enforce. The vulnerability operates at the file system level where critical security files are not properly protected, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks that could compromise the integrity of the entire security framework. This flaw directly relates to CWE-276, which addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources, and represents a classic example of insufficient access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the ZoneAlarm protection suite. Local users who might otherwise be restricted from system-level operations can exploit this weakness to gain elevated privileges or bypass security controls that ZoneAlarm is meant to enforce. This creates a false sense of security where users believe their systems are protected by ZoneAlarm while simultaneously providing attackers with an avenue to escalate their access within the system. The vulnerability affects not just individual user accounts but potentially the entire security infrastructure that ZoneAlarm is designed to protect, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users may have local access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention and involve several key approaches. Organizations should upgrade to ZoneAlarm version 7.0.362 or later where Check Point has addressed the insecure default permissions issue. System administrators should conduct thorough audits of file permissions for ZoneAlarm-related files to ensure proper access controls are implemented. The remediation process should include reviewing and correcting default file permissions for critical security components, implementing proper access control lists, and ensuring that only authorized processes can modify security-critical files. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper privilege management and access control implementation as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, where insecure default permissions serve as an initial foothold for attackers to gain elevated system access. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to critical security files.