CVE-2007-3972 in NOD32 Antivirus
Summary
by MITRE
ESET NOD32 Antivirus before 2.2289 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted (1) ASPACK or (2) FSG packed file, which triggers a divide-by-zero error.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3972 represents a critical denial of service flaw within ESET NOD32 Antivirus software versions prior to 2.2289. This weakness specifically targets the antivirus software's ability to handle packed executable files, creating a scenario where legitimate security operations can be disrupted through carefully crafted malicious inputs. The vulnerability demonstrates how advanced malware packing techniques can be exploited to compromise system stability and availability, even within well-established security solutions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of packed executable files during the scanning process. When ESET NOD32 encounters a crafted ASPACK or FSG packed file, the antivirus engine attempts to process these files without adequate validation of their internal structure. The divide-by-zero error occurs because the unpacking routine fails to properly validate the packed file header information, leading to an arithmetic operation attempting to divide by zero. This fundamental programming error creates an unhandled exception that causes the antivirus service to crash and terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability operates at the binary analysis level where the antivirus engine attempts to decompress and analyze packed executables, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by simply opening or scanning a malicious file.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire security posture of systems relying on ESET NOD32. Attackers can leverage this weakness to create persistent denial of service conditions against antivirus services, effectively rendering the security solution temporarily ineffective. This creates a window of opportunity for additional attacks to occur without detection, as the system becomes vulnerable due to the absence of active antivirus protection. The vulnerability affects not only individual endpoints but also network-wide security operations where centralized antivirus management systems may be compromised. Organizations using older versions of ESET NOD32 could face significant operational disruptions, particularly in environments where antivirus scanning is critical for maintaining system integrity and compliance requirements.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-369, which specifically addresses divide-by-zero errors in software implementations. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1489, which covers denial of service through manipulation of system resources. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory software updates to ESET NOD32 version 2.2289 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly validate packed file structures. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and additional monitoring for antivirus service disruptions can help detect exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider temporary disabling of automatic scanning for packed files or implementing manual verification processes before processing suspicious executables. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security patch management and highlights how even well-established security solutions can contain critical flaws that require immediate attention to maintain operational security.