CVE-2007-6029 in ClamAV
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in ClamAV 0.91.1 and 0.91.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted e-mail message. NOTE: this information is based upon a vague advisory by a vulnerability information sales organization that does not coordinate with vendors or release actionable advisories. A CVE has been assigned for tracking purposes, but duplicates with other CVEs are difficult to determine.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6029 represents a critical security flaw in ClamAV versions 0.91.1 and 0.91.2 that enables remote code execution through malicious email content. This issue stems from insufficient input validation within the email scanning functionality of the antivirus software, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by threat actors to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified reflects the limited information available from the initial advisory, which was provided by a commercial vulnerability information vendor rather than being coordinated through official channels with the ClamAV development team. This lack of coordinated disclosure complicates the assessment of the exact technical details and potential exploitation methods, though the core risk remains significant for systems utilizing these vulnerable ClamAV versions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability appears to be rooted in improper handling of email message structures during the scanning process, likely involving buffer overflows or memory corruption issues that occur when processing malformed email attachments or headers. Such flaws typically fall under CWE-121, which encompasses buffer overflow conditions, or CWE-122, which addresses buffer overflow vulnerabilities in heap-based memory structures. The attack scenario would involve sending a specially crafted email message that, when processed by the vulnerable ClamAV software, triggers memory corruption leading to arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks in email scanning systems where the software must parse and analyze potentially malicious content without proper sanitization mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple malware detection failures, as it represents a complete compromise of system security when exploited. Organizations relying on ClamAV for email security could face unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within their networks once an attacker successfully executes code through this vector. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not require physical access to systems or prior authentication, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where email serves as a primary communication channel. This vulnerability would likely be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it affects a security tool that processes external inputs through network-facing services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6029 should prioritize immediate patching of ClamAV installations to versions that address the vulnerability, with administrators verifying that their systems are running patched versions before considering other remediation options. Organizations should implement network segmentation and email filtering policies that reduce the attack surface, while monitoring for anomalous email processing behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's unclear nature suggests that organizations should also consider alternative email security solutions or additional layers of protection to compensate for the uncertainty surrounding the specific attack vectors. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all security tools in the email infrastructure are up to date and properly configured to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.