CVE-2012-1460 in F-Prot
Summary
by MITRE
The Gzip file parser in Antiy Labs AVL SDK 2.0.3.7, Quick Heal (aka Cat QuickHeal) 11.00, Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, eSafe 7.0.17.0, F-Prot Antivirus 4.6.2.117, Jiangmin Antivirus 13.0.900, K7 AntiVirus 9.77.3565, and VBA32 3.12.14.2 allows remote attackers to bypass malware detection via a .tar.gz file with stray bytes at the end. NOTE: this may later be SPLIT into multiple CVEs if additional information is published showing that the error occurred independently in different Gzip parser implementations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1460 represents a critical flaw in the gzip file parsing implementations across multiple antivirus solutions, specifically affecting the Antiy Labs AVL SDK 2.0.3.7, Quick Heal 11.00, Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, eSafe 7.0.17.0, F-Prot Antivirus 4.6.2.117, Jiangmin Antivirus 13.0.900, K7 AntiVirus 9.77.3565, and VBA32 3.12.14.2 products. This issue stems from an insufficient validation mechanism within the gzip decompression logic that fails to properly handle malformed archive files containing trailing bytes. The flaw occurs specifically when processing .tar.gz files that contain additional data appended beyond the legitimate gzip file boundaries, creating a scenario where the parser incorrectly interprets these extra bytes as part of the compressed data stream rather than as extraneous content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-129, which addresses insufficient input validation, and more specifically aligns with CWE-20, representing improper input validation in software implementations. The root cause lies in the gzip parser's inability to distinguish between legitimate compressed data and maliciously appended bytes that could contain embedded malware payloads. When these parsers encounter a .tar.gz file with stray bytes at the end, they fail to properly validate the file structure and may proceed to decompress content that should be rejected, thereby allowing potentially malicious code to bypass detection mechanisms. This behavior creates a significant security gap where attackers can craft specially formatted archive files that exploit the lenient parsing logic to evade antivirus scanning.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to organizations relying on these antivirus solutions for malware protection. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it allows remote attackers to bypass security controls without requiring direct system access or sophisticated exploitation techniques. The impact extends beyond simple detection bypass, as the presence of stray bytes in compressed archives could potentially be used to deliver malicious payloads that would otherwise be identified by proper file validation. This vulnerability affects the core functionality of antivirus engines by compromising their ability to accurately process and analyze compressed file formats, which are commonly used in various attack scenarios including phishing campaigns, exploit delivery, and malware distribution. The flaw essentially undermines the fundamental security premise that compressed files should be validated before decompression, creating a window where malicious content can slip through undetected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability spans multiple attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly relating to techniques involving execution through compressed files and evasion of security controls. Attackers can leverage this weakness to craft payloads that appear benign when examined by traditional antivirus scanners but contain hidden malicious code that executes only after the compressed file is processed. The vulnerability's potential to be split into multiple CVEs if additional information emerges indicates that similar parsing flaws may exist across different implementations, suggesting a broader pattern of insecure decompression handling. Organizations should consider implementing network-level protections and additional file validation mechanisms beyond their existing antivirus solutions to mitigate the risk. Remediation efforts should focus on updating affected antivirus products to versions that properly validate gzip file structures, implementing strict file format validation at network boundaries, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other decompression libraries and applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input sanitization in security software and underscores the necessity for comprehensive testing of file parsing logic under various malformed input conditions.