CVE-2007-4512 in Sophos
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Sophos Anti-Virus for Windows 6.x before 6.5.8 and 7.x before 7.0.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an archive with a file that matches a virus signature and has a crafted filename that is not properly handled by the print function in SavMain.exe.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2019
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within Sophos Anti-Virus for Windows versions 6.x prior to 6.5.8 and 7.x prior to 7.0.1, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the software processes archive files that match virus signatures but contain crafted filenames that are not properly sanitized during the print function execution in SavMain.exe component. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the antivirus software's file handling routines, creating an environment where malicious actors can exploit the software's own processing functions to inject harmful code.
The technical exploitation occurs through the manipulation of archive filenames that are processed by the antivirus engine's print function in SavMain.exe, which fails to properly escape or sanitize special characters in the filename before displaying or processing the file information. This creates a classic XSS vector where attacker-controlled content can be injected into the software's user interface or log outputs, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the legitimate antivirus software functionality to deliver malicious payloads, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and malicious content within the software's own interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it allows attackers to potentially compromise user sessions within the antivirus software interface, manipulate displayed information, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear to be legitimate system interfaces. Attackers could craft malicious archive files with specially designed filenames that, when scanned by the vulnerable antivirus software, would execute malicious JavaScript code in the context of the user's browser session. This could result in unauthorized access to system information, privilege escalation, or the ability to manipulate the antivirus software's behavior to bypass security measures.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web pages. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables the execution of malicious JavaScript code through the web interface of the antivirus software. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched versions 6.5.8 for 6.x releases and 7.0.1 for 7.x releases, implementing network-based restrictions on suspicious archive file types, and monitoring for unusual file scanning activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.
The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in security software, where the very tools designed to protect systems can become attack vectors if proper input validation and output encoding are not implemented. This flaw underscores the critical need for security vendors to maintain rigorous quality assurance processes and proper sanitization of all user-controllable inputs, especially in components that interact with user interfaces or generate dynamic content. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security such as web application firewalls and regular security assessments to detect and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in their security infrastructure.