CVE-2006-5272 in ePolicy Orchestrator
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator 3.5 through 3.6.1, ProtectionPilot 1.1.1 and 1.5, and Common Management Agent (CMA) 3.6.0.453 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted ping packet.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5272 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow affecting multiple components within McAfee's security ecosystem. This flaw exists in versions 3.5 through 3.6.1 of McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator, ProtectionPilot versions 1.1.1 and 1.5, and Common Management Agent versions 3.6.0.453 and earlier. The vulnerability manifests when these security components process incoming ping packets, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The buffer overflow occurs due to insufficient bounds checking during the handling of network traffic, specifically when parsing ICMP echo requests that contain malformed data structures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the network protocol handling code of McAfee's security products. When a crafted ping packet is received, the system fails to properly validate the length or content of the incoming data before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially including return addresses and function pointers, thereby enabling code execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the network level, meaning attackers can exploit it remotely without requiring local system access or authentication credentials. The flaw maps directly to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the CWE top 25 most dangerous software weaknesses and is commonly exploited in remote code execution attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual system compromise to potentially affect entire enterprise security infrastructures. Organizations relying on McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator and related components for security policy management and threat detection face significant risk exposure, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain complete control over security management systems. This would enable malicious actors to modify security policies, disable protective measures, or establish persistent access points within the network. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target these systems from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly attractive for automated exploitation campaigns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables initial access and subsequent command execution capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-5272 require immediate patching of affected systems to address the underlying buffer overflow condition. Organizations should prioritize updating all instances of McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator 3.5 through 3.6.1, ProtectionPilot 1.1.1 and 1.5, and Common Management Agent 3.6.0.453 and earlier to their patched versions. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict unnecessary ICMP traffic to affected systems, while monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also implement intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed ping packets and anomalous network behavior patterns associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining unpatched systems within the enterprise environment, as this vulnerability could be leveraged as a stepping stone for more comprehensive attacks against the organization's security infrastructure.