CVE-2012-1426 in Rising
Summary
by MITRE
The TAR file parser in Quick Heal (aka Cat QuickHeal) 11.00, Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, F-Prot Antivirus 4.6.2.117, K7 AntiVirus 9.77.3565, Norman Antivirus 6.06.12, and Rising Antivirus 22.83.00.03 allows remote attackers to bypass malware detection via a POSIX TAR file with an initial \42\5A\68 character sequence. NOTE: this may later be SPLIT into multiple CVEs if additional information is published showing that the error occurred independently in different TAR parser implementations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1426 represents a critical flaw in multiple antivirus software implementations that process TAR archive files. This issue affects Quick Heal, Command Antivirus, F-Prot Antivirus, K7 AntiVirus, Norman Antivirus, and Rising Antivirus products, all of which utilize flawed TAR file parsers that fail to properly validate file headers. The vulnerability specifically targets the initial character sequence \42\5A\68 which corresponds to the magic number used by bzip2 compressed files, creating a scenario where malicious actors can craft TAR archives that appear legitimate to the antivirus parsers while actually containing malicious payloads. This flaw falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and is particularly concerning as it enables evasion of security controls through file format manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of TAR file headers during the parsing process. When these antivirus applications encounter a TAR file beginning with the bzip2 magic number \42\5A\68, they fail to properly distinguish between legitimate compressed archives and maliciously crafted archives. The parser incorrectly interprets the sequence as a valid bzip2 file header rather than a TAR file header, allowing the malicious content to bypass detection mechanisms. This error demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the file format recognition logic and highlights the importance of proper file signature validation. The issue is particularly dangerous because it exploits the trust placed in file format identification routines, creating a false positive scenario where the antivirus system believes it is processing a legitimate compressed file while actually encountering a crafted attack vector.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on these antivirus solutions for malware protection. Attackers can leverage this weakness to deliver malicious payloads that would otherwise be detected by standard antivirus scanning procedures, effectively neutralizing the security controls provided by these applications. The impact extends beyond individual systems to potentially affect entire network infrastructures where these antivirus products are deployed. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require special privileges or complex attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through simple file delivery mechanisms. This weakness directly impacts the core functionality of antivirus systems and represents a failure in the defensive posture that organizations rely upon for malware protection. The issue is categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter which demonstrates how file format manipulation can be used to bypass security controls.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected antivirus products, as vendors have released updates to address the flawed TAR parser implementation. Organizations should also implement additional layers of security monitoring to detect anomalous file processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and file validation policies should be strengthened to prevent the execution of suspicious archives, particularly those with unusual header sequences. Regular security assessments should verify that antivirus systems are properly configured to handle various file formats without falling victim to similar header manipulation techniques. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for robust file format validation and the importance of maintaining updated security solutions that can properly identify and handle various archive formats. System administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for suspicious file analysis and ensure that antivirus signature databases are regularly updated to address newly discovered evasion techniques.