CVE-2010-5186 in Internet Security
Summary
by MITRE
The Antivirus component in Comodo Internet Security before 4.1.150349.920 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5186 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the antivirus component of Comodo Internet Security versions prior to 4.1.150349.920. This flaw specifically targets the application's handling of maliciously crafted files that can trigger unexpected behavior in the security software itself. The vulnerability exists in the file processing logic of the antivirus engine, where improper input validation leads to application instability when encountering specially crafted malicious files.
This vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as classified by CWE-20, which is a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to manipulate input data in ways that cause unexpected program behavior. The flaw specifically manifests when the antivirus component attempts to analyze a file that has been deliberately constructed to exploit buffer handling or parsing inconsistencies within the security application. The attack vector is remote, meaning that an attacker can trigger this vulnerability without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where users may inadvertently encounter malicious files through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-5186 extends beyond simple service disruption as it can lead to complete application failure and system instability. When exploited, the vulnerability causes the Comodo Internet Security application to crash, potentially leaving the system unprotected during the crash period. This creates a window of vulnerability where the system may be exposed to other threats that the antivirus would normally detect and prevent. The denial of service effect can be amplified in enterprise environments where multiple systems run the vulnerable version of Comodo Internet Security, potentially causing cascading failures across networked infrastructure. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which involves network denial of service attacks that target application availability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Comodo. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to Comodo Internet Security version 4.1.150349.920 or later, which includes proper input validation mechanisms to prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability. Network administrators should implement additional protective measures such as network segmentation to limit the impact of potential exploitation and ensure that antivirus engines are properly configured to handle suspicious file types. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual application crash patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, and system administrators should maintain regular backup procedures to quickly restore service in case of successful exploitation. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other security components within the organization's defense infrastructure.