CVE-2012-1455 in Rising
Summary
by MITRE
The CAB file parser in NOD32 Antivirus 5795 and Rising Antivirus 22.83.00.03 allows remote attackers to bypass malware detection via a CAB file with a modified vMinor version 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 • 02/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1455 represents a critical flaw in the CAB file parsing functionality of two major antivirus solutions, specifically NOD32 Antivirus version 5795 and Rising Antivirus version 22.83.00.03. This issue stems from an insufficient validation mechanism within the CAB file format parser that fails to properly verify the version field structure, creating a pathway for malicious actors to evade security detection. The flaw specifically targets the vMinor version field within CAB archives, which serves as a crucial metadata element that antivirus engines rely upon to determine file authenticity and potential threat status. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of software parsing security and malware evasion techniques, fundamentally undermining the integrity checks that antivirus systems perform during file analysis.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a design oversight in the CAB file format handling logic where the parser accepts modified version fields without proper validation. When a CAB file contains a manipulated vMinor version field, the antivirus engine fails to recognize the anomaly and incorrectly processes the archive as legitimate, thereby bypassing critical malware detection mechanisms. This flaw aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and demonstrates how seemingly minor version field manipulations can have profound security implications. The vulnerability enables attackers to craft CAB files that appear structurally valid to the antivirus parser while containing malicious payloads that would otherwise be detected through standard analysis procedures.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on these specific antivirus versions, as it allows threat actors to deliver malware through CAB archives that would normally be flagged as suspicious. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to potentially affect entire network infrastructures, particularly in environments where these antivirus solutions are widely deployed. Attackers can leverage this weakness to bypass security controls during initial access phases or to maintain persistence within compromised systems. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous as it can be utilized by threat actors across various skill levels. This represents a classic example of how protocol parsing flaws can be weaponized to undermine security controls, as described in the ATT&CK framework under techniques related to evasion and privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1455 involve immediate patching of affected antivirus versions to address the CAB file parsing implementation. Organizations should implement additional file validation measures beyond traditional antivirus signatures, including behavioral analysis and heuristic scanning that can detect anomalous CAB file structures regardless of version field values. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect unusual CAB file transfers or execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing multiple layers of defense, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of not relying solely on single-point detection mechanisms. The incident highlights the necessity for comprehensive testing of file format parsers and the implementation of robust input validation across all security software components to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.