CVE-2007-3906 in Anti-Virus for Check Point FireWall
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Check Point FireWall-1 before Critical Fix 1 (5.5.161.0) might allow attackers to cause a denial of service (kernel hang) via unspecified vectors. NOTE: it is not clear whether there is an attacker role.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3906 represents a critical weakness in the Kaspersky Anti-Virus component integrated with Check Point FireWall-1 security infrastructure. This issue affects versions prior to Critical Fix 1 release 5.5.161.0, indicating that the flaw existed within the kernel-level processing mechanisms of the antivirus solution. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that multiple attack surfaces within the system could potentially trigger the malicious behavior, making the threat assessment particularly challenging for security professionals. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service condition specifically targets the kernel hang phenomenon, which represents a severe operational impact that could compromise the entire security infrastructure.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates at the kernel level of the operating system, where the antivirus software's anti-malware engine interacts directly with system resources and memory management functions. The kernel hang condition typically occurs when system processes become unresponsive due to improper handling of kernel-level resources or when malicious input causes the kernel to enter an infinite loop or deadlock state. The fact that this vulnerability affects Check Point FireWall-1 integration suggests that the flaw manifests when Kaspersky's antivirus engine attempts to process network traffic or system events through the firewall's security framework, creating a cascading failure that brings the entire system to a halt.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, as it represents a potential attack vector that could be exploited to disrupt critical network security operations. When the kernel hangs, the entire system becomes unresponsive, preventing legitimate network traffic from being processed and potentially allowing malicious actors to bypass security controls. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of system availability within the CIA triad and could be particularly devastating in enterprise environments where firewalls serve as primary security perimeters. The uncertainty regarding attacker roles suggests that the vulnerability might be exploitable through both intentional attacks and accidental conditions, making it particularly dangerous for production environments.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a potential candidate for exploitation under the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically within the defense evasion and denial of service categories. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited context, and potentially CWE-121, concerning stack-based buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures including deployment of Critical Fix 1 version 5.5.161.0, along with comprehensive monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate kernel-level instability. Network segmentation and redundant security controls should be maintained as defensive measures while patching occurs, as the vulnerability's potential for causing complete system paralysis requires proactive mitigation strategies. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors emphasizes the importance of thorough vulnerability assessment and continuous security monitoring to identify potential exploitation attempts before they can cause operational disruption.