CVE-2007-4206 in Anti-Spam
Summary
by MITRE
Kaspersky Anti-Spam 3.0 MP1 before Critical Fix 2 (3.0.278.4) sets incorrect permissions for application files in certain upgrade scenarios, which might allow local users to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4206 affects Kaspersky Anti-Spam 3.0 MP1 before Critical Fix 2 version 3.0.278.4 and represents a significant privilege escalation risk within the software's upgrade process. This issue stems from improper permission settings applied to application files during specific upgrade scenarios, creating potential security weaknesses that malicious local users could exploit to elevate their privileges.
The technical flaw manifests during upgrade operations where the Kaspersky Anti-Spam software fails to properly configure file permissions for critical application components. When the software undergoes an upgrade process, certain files receive incorrect access controls that may grant unnecessary write or execute permissions to local user accounts. This misconfiguration typically occurs in scenarios involving incremental updates or patch installations where the upgrade mechanism does not properly reset or validate file permissions for the updated application binaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a persistent security weakness that could be exploited by attackers with local access to the system. Local users who can execute code on the target machine could leverage these improperly configured permissions to modify critical application files, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the anti-spam protection mechanism itself, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls or inject malicious code into the spam filtering process.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which describes inadequate permissions for critical resources, and represents a classic example of improper privilege management in software upgrade processes. The flaw demonstrates poor security hygiene in application lifecycle management, where the upgrade mechanism fails to maintain proper security boundaries between different user contexts. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves local privilege escalation through improper permissions, and T1547.001, which covers registry run keys and startup folder modifications that could be leveraged through the compromised application files.
Organizations should immediately apply the Critical Fix 2 update released by Kaspersky to address this vulnerability, as the fix properly implements correct file permissions during upgrade scenarios. System administrators should also conduct thorough permission audits of Kaspersky Anti-Spam installation directories to ensure no lingering improperly configured files remain. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege controls and monitoring for unauthorized file modifications in critical application directories would provide additional defense layers against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper permission management during software lifecycle operations and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of upgrade mechanisms.