CVE-2012-1453 in Panda
Summary
by MITRE
The CAB file parser in Dr.Web 5.0.2.03300, Trend Micro HouseCall 9.120.0.1004, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0.0.125, Sophos Anti-Virus 4.61.0, Trend Micro AntiVirus 9.120.0.1004, McAfee Gateway (formerly Webwasher) 2010.1C, Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5.1.0.1, CA eTrust Vet Antivirus 36.1.8511, Antiy Labs AVL SDK 2.0.3.7, Antimalware Engine 1.1.6402.0 in Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0, Rising Antivirus 22.83.00.03, Ikarus Virus Utilities T3 Command Line Scanner 1.1.97.0, Fortinet Antivirus 4.2.254.0, and Panda Antivirus 10.0.2.7 allows remote attackers to bypass malware detection via a CAB file with a modified coffFiles field. NOTE: this may later be SPLIT into multiple CVEs if additional information is published showing that the error occurred independently in different CAB parser implementations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1453 represents a critical flaw in multiple antivirus and security software implementations that process CAB (Cabinet) archive files. This issue affects a wide range of security products including Dr.Web, Trend Micro, Kaspersky, Sophos, McAfee, Emsisoft, CA eTrust, Microsoft Security Essentials, Rising, Ikarus, Fortinet, and Panda Antivirus versions. The core problem lies in how these security applications parse CAB file structures, specifically targeting the coffFiles field within the archive's internal metadata. This field typically contains crucial information about file offsets and structure validation that helps security software properly analyze and scan archive contents for malicious code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the coffFiles field in CAB archives, allowing attackers to craft malicious CAB files that can bypass security detection mechanisms. When security software parses these modified CAB files, the altered coffFiles field causes the parser to incorrectly interpret file locations and structures, leading to incomplete or incorrect scanning of archive contents. This parsing error creates a window where malicious code can be hidden within the CAB archive without being detected by the antivirus software's scanning routines. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of improper input validation where the software fails to properly validate or sanitize the structure of CAB files before processing them, creating a path for evasion attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple security vendors and represents a significant concern for enterprise security infrastructure. Organizations relying on these affected security products face potential exposure to malware that could bypass their protection mechanisms entirely. The vulnerability affects both endpoint protection solutions and network security appliances, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited across different security layers. The issue's potential for splitting into multiple CVEs indicates that similar parsing flaws may exist in other software implementations, suggesting that this represents a broader class of vulnerabilities rather than isolated incidents. The widespread nature of affected products means that many organizations could be simultaneously vulnerable, creating a significant attack surface for threat actors.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected software versions, as vendors would need to update their CAB file parsing logic to properly validate the coffFiles field and other structural elements. Organizations should implement additional network monitoring and file inspection procedures to detect potentially malicious CAB files, particularly those with unusual or modified structure parameters. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through command-line interfaces and T1204.002 for exploitation through malicious files, making it a significant concern for both endpoint and network security teams. Compliance with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and CWE-126, which covers buffer over-read conditions, becomes critical for developers implementing file parsing functionality. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for suspicious CAB files and maintaining updated threat intelligence to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific parsing vulnerability.