CVE-2012-1437 in Comodo
Summary
by MITRE
The Microsoft Office file parser in Comodo Antivirus 7425 allows remote attackers to bypass malware detection via an Office file with a \50\4B\53\70\58 character sequence at a certain location.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1437 represents a critical flaw in the file parsing mechanism of Comodo Antivirus version 7425, specifically affecting its handling of Microsoft Office files within the antivirus detection pipeline. This issue stems from an insufficient validation process that fails to properly interpret certain character sequences within Office file structures, creating a pathway for malicious actors to evade automated threat detection systems. The vulnerability manifests when a specially crafted Office file contains the specific byte sequence \50\4B\53\70\58 at a predetermined location within the file structure, which the antivirus software misinterprets as legitimate content rather than a potential indicator of malicious intent.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the Office file format parser within Comodo Antivirus, where the sequence \50\4B\53\70\58 corresponds to the hexadecimal representation of the string "PKSpx" which is typically associated with specific internal structures within zip-based file formats. When this sequence appears in a location that the antivirus parser incorrectly interprets as part of a legitimate Office file structure, the malware detection engine fails to properly analyze the file contents, allowing potentially malicious code to bypass security checks. This parsing error creates a false positive in the antivirus's file type identification system, effectively disabling the detection mechanisms that would normally flag suspicious Office files containing malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple detection evasion, as it represents a fundamental weakness in the antivirus software's file analysis capabilities that could enable sophisticated attack campaigns. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to deliver malware through Office documents that appear legitimate to traditional antivirus systems, potentially compromising endpoints that rely on Comodo Antivirus for protection. The vulnerability specifically affects the Office file parser component, which is a critical element in modern antivirus solutions that must handle complex file formats while maintaining robust detection capabilities. This flaw can result in significant security breaches where malicious documents bypass protection mechanisms and execute code on target systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or further lateral movement within networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates from Comodo to address the parsing logic flaw in their antivirus engine. Organizations should ensure that all Comodo Antivirus installations are updated to versions that properly handle the Office file format parsing without being susceptible to the specific character sequence manipulation. Security administrators should also implement additional layers of protection including network-based intrusion detection systems, email filtering solutions, and endpoint detection and response tools that can identify suspicious behavior patterns independent of traditional signature-based detection methods. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for execution through Office applications, highlighting the importance of comprehensive security approaches that go beyond traditional antivirus solutions to protect against such sophisticated evasion techniques.