CVE-2012-1440 in eTrust Vet Antivirus
Summary
by MITRE
The ELF file parser in Norman Antivirus 6.06.12, eSafe 7.0.17.0, CA eTrust Vet Antivirus 36.1.8511, Fortinet Antivirus 4.2.254.0, and Panda Antivirus 10.0.2.7 allows remote attackers to bypass malware detection via an ELF file with a modified identsize field. NOTE: this may later be SPLIT into multiple CVEs if additional information is published showing that the error occurred independently in different ELF parser implementations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1440 represents a critical flaw in multiple commercial antivirus solutions that process executable files on linux systems. This issue specifically targets the ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) file parser implementation across several antivirus products including Norman Antivirus 6.06.12, eSafe 7.0.17.0, CA eTrust Vet Antivirus 36.1.8511, Fortinet Antivirus 4.2.254.0, and Panda Antivirus 10.0.2.7. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of the ELF file format, particularly the identsize field which is part of the ELF header structure. This field specifies the size of the ELF identification header, and when manipulated by attackers, it allows malware to evade detection mechanisms that rely on standard file format parsing.
The technical flaw exploits the way these antivirus solutions parse ELF files by not properly validating the identsize field during the initial file analysis phase. When an attacker crafts an ELF file with a modified identsize value, the antivirus software's parser may misinterpret the file structure, leading to incorrect file classification or complete failure to recognize malicious content within the file. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, as the parser attempts to read beyond the expected bounds of the file header, potentially causing the system to skip critical malware detection routines or misclassify the file entirely. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation in file format parsers, which is a common weakness in security software implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to bypass security measures that are supposed to protect against malware infections on linux systems. Attackers can craft malicious ELF files that appear legitimate to the antivirus software, thereby evading detection and potentially executing malicious code on target systems. This vulnerability affects enterprise security environments where these antivirus solutions are deployed, potentially allowing persistent threats to establish footholds within networks. The remote nature of the attack means that attackers do not need physical access to systems to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where automated threat detection is critical.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected antivirus solutions, as vendors would need to update their ELF parser implementations to properly validate the identsize field and other header components. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as file integrity monitoring, behavioral analysis, and network-based detection systems to provide defense in depth. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell, as attackers leveraging this vulnerability could execute malicious code through compromised ELF files. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for suspicious ELF files and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to detect exploitation attempts. The issue demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in security software and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of file format parsers against crafted inputs to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.