CVE-2010-4479 in ClamAV
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in pdf.c in libclamav in ClamAV before 0.96.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF document, aka "bb #2380," a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-4260.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4479 represents a critical security flaw within the ClamAV antivirus software suite, specifically affecting the libclamav library component. This issue manifests in the pdf.c file which processes PDF documents during malware scanning operations. The vulnerability was discovered prior to ClamAV version 0.96.5, making all earlier versions susceptible to exploitation by remote attackers who could craft malicious PDF files designed to trigger the flaw. The nature of this vulnerability places it within the category of memory corruption issues that can lead to either application crashes or more severe arbitrary code execution capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory handling within the PDF parsing functionality of ClamAV's libclamav library. When processing specially crafted PDF documents, the pdf.c component fails to properly validate or sanitize input data, leading to buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions. These conditions can cause the application to crash unexpectedly or potentially allow attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the ClamAV process. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service vector indicates that even successful exploitation may not necessarily result in full system compromise, but the potential for arbitrary code execution makes it particularly concerning for security professionals.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4479 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable sophisticated attack scenarios. Organizations relying on ClamAV for email filtering, file scanning, or endpoint protection face significant risk when operating vulnerable versions, as attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems through infected PDF attachments. The vulnerability's similarity to CVE-2010-4260 but distinct nature suggests that attackers might employ multiple attack vectors targeting different components of the PDF processing stack. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and integrity of security infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls or establish persistent access to compromised systems.
Security mitigations for CVE-2010-4479 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches to ClamAV versions 0.96.5 and later, which contain fixes addressing the PDF parsing flaws. System administrators should prioritize updating their ClamAV installations and verify that the updated versions properly handle PDF files without crashing or executing unintended code. Additionally, network administrators can implement additional protective measures such as PDF file scanning restrictions, sandboxing of suspicious PDF documents, and monitoring for unusual application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework, where attackers typically seek to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities to achieve code execution or denial of service conditions. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs, following established security frameworks such as those outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK matrix for malware analysis and defense strategies.