CVE-2005-3230 in Antivir
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple interpretation error in unspecified versions of Panda Antivirus allows remote attackers to bypass virus detection via a malicious executable in a specially crafted RAR file with malformed central and local headers, which can still be opened by products such as Winrar and PowerZip, even though they are rejected as corrupted by Winzip and BitZipper.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3230 represents a critical flaw in Panda Antivirus software that demonstrates the complexity of malware detection systems and the potential for sophisticated evasion techniques. This issue specifically targets the handling of archive files, particularly RAR format archives, where the antivirus engine fails to properly interpret malformed file structures that would normally trigger corruption warnings in other archive utilities. The vulnerability arises from the inconsistent interpretation of RAR file headers between different software implementations, creating a gap in detection capabilities that malicious actors can exploit to bypass security measures.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of malformed central and local headers within RAR archives, which are fundamental components of the RAR file format specification. When a RAR file contains these specifically crafted headers, legitimate archive utilities such as WinRAR and PowerZip can still successfully extract the contents despite the structural anomalies. However, the Panda Antivirus engine fails to properly analyze these same files, leading to a scenario where malicious executables can be concealed within the archive without triggering appropriate security alerts. This discrepancy in interpretation between different software implementations creates a dangerous blind spot in the security infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple detection failure, as it demonstrates a fundamental weakness in how antivirus vendors approach file format analysis and validation. Attackers can leverage this flaw to deliver malware payloads that would otherwise be detected by more robust security solutions, potentially resulting in successful infection of systems that rely on Panda Antivirus for protection. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions of the software suggests a systemic issue in the parsing logic rather than an isolated incident, indicating that organizations using affected versions face prolonged exposure to this risk.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input data, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through archive files. The issue also demonstrates characteristics of CWE-707, concerning improper neutralization of input that could be used for code injection, as the malformed headers can potentially be exploited to manipulate the extraction process. Organizations should implement layered security approaches that include multiple antivirus solutions with different detection methodologies, regular updates to security software, and network monitoring to detect unusual archive extraction patterns. Additionally, the vulnerability underscores the importance of validating security assumptions through comprehensive testing of file format handling across different software implementations.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of affected Panda Antivirus versions, combined with enhanced monitoring of archive file operations within the network environment. Security teams should also consider implementing additional verification mechanisms such as file integrity checks, behavioral analysis of extracted content, and multi-engine scanning approaches to compensate for the detection gap. Organizations that cannot immediately update their antivirus software should consider disabling automatic extraction of RAR archives and implementing strict file type restrictions for archive handling processes.