CVE-2010-4261 in ClamAV
Summary
by MITRE
Off-by-one error in the icon_cb function in pe_icons.c in libclamav in ClamAV before 0.96.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4261 represents a critical off-by-one error within the icon_cb function in the pe_icons.c component of ClamAV's libclamav library. This flaw exists in ClamAV versions prior to 0.96.5 and demonstrates a classic buffer manipulation vulnerability that can be exploited remotely. The issue stems from improper bounds checking during the processing of Portable Executable file icons, specifically when handling icon callback functions that parse icon resource data within executable files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an off-by-one error that occurs when the icon_cb function processes icon data structures in PE files. This type of error falls under the CWE-129 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses improper validation of array indices or buffer bounds. When maliciously crafted PE files are processed by ClamAV, the function fails to properly validate the size of icon data structures, leading to memory corruption that can manifest as application crashes or potentially allow for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers can trigger the flaw simply by submitting specially crafted PE files for scanning without requiring local access to the system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on ClamAV for malware detection and prevention. The potential for remote denial of service attacks can disrupt security operations and create opportunities for attackers to perform persistent attacks against systems. The possibility of arbitrary code execution further amplifies the threat level, as it could enable attackers to gain control over systems running vulnerable ClamAV versions. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and integrity of security services, potentially allowing malicious actors to bypass security controls or compromise system integrity. The attack surface extends to any environment where ClamAV processes potentially malicious PE files, including email servers, web proxies, and network security appliances.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4261 primarily focus on immediate software updates to ClamAV versions 0.96.5 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the off-by-one error. Security administrators should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly when processing files from untrusted sources. Additional protective measures include implementing file type filtering to restrict processing of PE files, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation patterns, and maintaining regular security assessments of ClamAV deployments. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1499.004 (Endpoint Denial of Service: File and Directory Permissions) highlights the need for comprehensive defensive measures that address both the immediate exploitation vectors and broader security posture considerations. Organizations should also consider implementing multiple layers of malware detection to reduce dependency on any single security tool and maintain operational resilience against similar vulnerabilities.