CVE-2008-6085 in F-Secure
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in multiple F-Secure anti-virus products, including Internet Security 2006 through 2008, Anti-Virus 2006 through 2008, and others, when configured to scan inside compressed archives, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted RPM compressed archive file, which triggers a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6085 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting multiple generations of F-Secure anti-virus software spanning from 2006 through 2008. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the anti-virus products are configured to scan compressed archive files, particularly RPM archives, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw resides in the handling of compressed archive contents, where the software fails to properly validate integer values during the decompression and scanning process, leading to potential buffer overflow conditions that can be manipulated by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic integer overflow condition that occurs during the processing of RPM compressed archive files. When the F-Secure anti-virus software attempts to parse and scan the contents of these archives, it calculates buffer sizes based on integer values that can be manipulated by an attacker. This miscalculation results in insufficient buffer allocation, creating memory corruption that allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability specifically affects the archive scanning functionality and is triggered when the software encounters specially crafted RPM files designed to exploit the integer overflow in the decompression routine. This flaw directly maps to CWE-190, which describes integer overflow conditions, and represents a common vector for privilege escalation attacks in security software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it compromises the fundamental security posture of systems running affected F-Secure products. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to bypass security controls, execute malicious code with elevated privileges, and potentially establish persistent access to compromised systems. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access or local credentials to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where anti-virus solutions are deployed across multiple systems. This vulnerability undermines the trust model of anti-virus software, as the security tool itself becomes a potential attack vector rather than a protective mechanism.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and execution through legitimate system tools. The attack pattern demonstrates how adversaries can manipulate legitimate software functionality to achieve unauthorized code execution, a technique commonly categorized under privilege escalation and execution domains. Organizations using affected F-Secure products face significant risk of compromise, as the vulnerability allows attackers to bypass traditional security controls that rely on the integrity of anti-virus software. System administrators should consider this vulnerability as a critical threat requiring immediate attention and remediation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected F-Secure products to the latest available versions that contain fixes for the integer overflow condition. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious archive files, while monitoring for unusual scanning activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should consider disabling archive scanning functionality for untrusted sources until proper patches are deployed, and implement comprehensive monitoring for memory corruption indicators that could signal exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper integer validation in security software and the potential consequences when such validation is insufficient.