CVE-2007-3300 in F-Secure
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple F-Secure anti-virus products for Microsoft Windows and Linux before 20070619 allow remote attackers to bypass scanning via a crafted header in a (1) LHA or (2) RAR archive.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3300 represents a significant security flaw in multiple F-Secure anti-virus products designed for Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects versions of the anti-virus software released prior to June 19, 2007, creating a window of exposure for systems running these outdated versions. The flaw manifests in the archive file processing capabilities of the anti-virus software, where malicious actors can exploit crafted headers within compressed archives to evade detection and scanning mechanisms. This vulnerability directly impacts the core functionality of anti-virus solutions by undermining their ability to properly analyze and identify threats within archive files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of archive headers within the F-Secure anti-virus scanning engine. When processing LHA (LHA is a compression format) or RAR (Real Archive) archive files, the software fails to properly validate the structure and content of header information. Attackers can craft malicious headers that manipulate the parsing logic of the anti-virus engine, causing it to skip critical portions of the archive or misinterpret the file structure entirely. This allows malware payloads to be hidden within archive files that would normally be flagged as suspicious or malicious. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the decompression and analysis routines that are fundamental to anti-virus functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it directly compromises the integrity of the security scanning process.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-3300 extends beyond simple bypass of security controls, as it represents a complete failure of the anti-virus product's threat detection capabilities. Organizations running affected F-Secure software versions face a substantial risk of malware infiltration through archive-based attacks, particularly in environments where email attachments, file downloads, or network transfers are common. The vulnerability enables attackers to deliver malicious code through seemingly benign archive files, potentially leading to system compromise, data exfiltration, or further network propagation. This represents a critical failure in the defense-in-depth principle, as the primary security control designed to detect and block malicious archive contents becomes ineffective. The impact is amplified in enterprise environments where anti-virus solutions serve as the first line of defense against various malware families that commonly use archive formats for distribution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates and patches from F-Secure to address the header validation flaws in their anti-virus products. System administrators should prioritize upgrading to F-Secure versions released after June 19, 2007, which contain the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement layered security measures including network-based firewalls, email filtering solutions, and endpoint protection systems that can detect suspicious archive behavior even when traditional anti-virus scanning fails. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of input boundaries, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through archive files. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual archive processing patterns, and security teams should consider implementing sandboxing techniques for suspicious archive files to provide additional detection layers beyond traditional signature-based scanning approaches.