CVE-2009-0850 in Internet Security
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in BitDefender Internet Security 2009 allows user-assisted remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the filename of a virus-infected file, as demonstrated by a filename inside a (1) rar or (2) zip archive file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0850 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within BitDefender Internet Security 2009 that demonstrates a critical weakness in how the security software handles file names associated with infected archives. This issue specifically affects the application's processing of archive files including both rar and zip formats, where the malicious actor can manipulate the filename of a virus-infected file to execute unintended code. The vulnerability operates through a user-assisted remote attack vector, meaning that the victim must perform some action to trigger the malicious code execution, typically by interacting with the infected file within the security software's interface. The flaw resides in the application's insufficient sanitization of file names during the scanning and display processes, creating an avenue for attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content that gets executed in the context of the user's browser.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The flaw occurs when the BitDefender security software processes archive files and displays the infected file names in its user interface, failing to adequately sanitize the input before rendering it. This creates a persistent XSS vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious filenames with embedded script tags or other HTML content. The attack requires the victim to open or interact with the infected archive file within the BitDefender interface, making it a user-assisted attack that leverages social engineering techniques to deliver the malicious payload. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices in the security software's file name handling mechanisms, which should have implemented proper output encoding or sanitization before displaying file information to users.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on BitDefender Internet Security 2009 for endpoint protection. The attack scenario allows threat actors to potentially execute malicious code in the context of a user's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further system compromise. Security professionals who use the software for monitoring and threat analysis could be particularly vulnerable, as the malicious code could execute within their administrative interface. The vulnerability also undermines the trust model of the security software itself, as it demonstrates that the very tool designed to protect against malware can be used as an attack vector. This creates a dangerous situation where legitimate security tools become potential attack platforms, compromising the integrity of the entire security infrastructure and potentially allowing attackers to bypass other security controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch application from BitDefender, as the vendor would have released a security update addressing the input validation flaw. Organizations should implement network-level controls to prevent the execution of suspicious archive files and establish strict file type filtering policies to limit exposure. Browser security enhancements including content security policy implementations and XSS protection mechanisms should be enabled to reduce the impact if exploitation occurs. Additionally, security awareness training for users can help prevent the social engineering aspects of this attack by teaching users to be cautious when interacting with suspicious files. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of applying security patches promptly and maintaining up-to-date security software versions, as this flaw would likely have been addressed through standard security update processes. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious file name patterns and network traffic that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability, aligning with defensive techniques recommended in the ATT&CK framework for defending against credential access and execution techniques.