CVE-2007-1226 in VirusScan
Summary
by MITRE
McAfee VirusScan for Mac (Virex) before 7.7 patch 1 has weak permissions (0666) for /Library/Application Support/Virex/VShieldExclude.txt, which allows local users to reconfigure Virex to skip scanning of arbitrary files.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1226 represents a critical access control flaw in McAfee VirusScan for Mac versions prior to 7.7 patch 1. This issue stems from improper file permissions that grant excessive privileges to local users, creating a significant security risk within the operating system environment. The affected file VShieldExclude.txt resides in the application support directory with world-writable permissions set to 0666, which violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control implementation. This configuration allows any local user to modify the exclusion list that determines which files the antivirus software will skip during scanning operations.
The technical flaw manifests through the weak file permissions that permit unauthorized modification of the virus scanner's exclusion configuration. When a file is added to the VShieldExclude.txt list, the antivirus software will bypass scanning of any files matching those exclusion patterns, effectively creating a backdoor that allows malicious actors to hide malware or unwanted files from detection. The 0666 permission setting provides read, write, and execute permissions to all users, including unprivileged local accounts, which directly contradicts the security principle that only authorized system administrators should be able to modify critical security configuration files. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-276, Access Control Issues, specifically addressing improper file permissions and inadequate access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete bypass of antivirus protection for targeted files. Local users can exploit this weakness to hide malicious executables, trojans, or other threats from detection, effectively neutralizing the antivirus software's protective capabilities. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to create persistent threats that remain undetected by the security system while maintaining access to the compromised system. The risk is particularly severe in multi-user environments where untrusted local accounts could exploit this flaw without requiring elevated privileges. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1562.001 - Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools, where adversaries disable security controls to avoid detection and maintain persistence.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patch to address this vulnerability, which updates the file permissions to restrict write access to only authorized system administrators. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of file permissions across all security-related configuration files to identify similar weak access controls. Additional mitigations include implementing mandatory access controls, monitoring for unauthorized modifications to security configuration files, and ensuring proper privilege separation between user accounts and system administration functions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper permission management in security software and highlights the need for regular security assessments of system configurations to prevent unauthorized access to critical security controls.