CVE-2012-1907 in PrivaWall Antivirus
Summary
by MITRE
The scanner engine in PrivaWall Antivirus 5.6 and earlier does not recognize the Office XML (aka Open Document XML) file format, which allows remote attackers to bypass malware detection via a crafted file embedded in a WordML document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1907 represents a critical flaw in the PrivaWall Antivirus 5.6 and earlier versions that stems from inadequate file format recognition capabilities within its scanner engine. This weakness specifically targets the Office XML file format, also known as Open Document XML, which is commonly used in Microsoft Office documents including WordML documents. The vulnerability exists because the antivirus software's detection mechanisms fail to properly identify and analyze these XML-based document formats, creating a significant gap in malware protection that adversaries can exploit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when attackers craft malicious files that are embedded within WordML documents, which are legitimate XML-based formats used by Microsoft Word for document storage. These crafted files leverage the fact that PrivaWall's scanner engine does not properly recognize or parse Office XML structures, allowing malicious code to bypass traditional signature-based and heuristic detection methods. The flaw essentially creates a false positive scenario where the antivirus system fails to identify the presence of malware within what appears to be a legitimate document format. This issue falls under the CWE-119 weakness category, which deals with weak input validation and inadequate handling of file formats, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter execution through Office applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to conduct sophisticated malware delivery campaigns without detection by the targeted antivirus system. Attackers can embed malicious payloads within seemingly harmless WordML documents, which are commonly used in business environments and therefore more likely to be opened by unsuspecting users. This bypass capability undermines the fundamental purpose of endpoint protection systems and creates a significant risk for organizations relying on PrivaWall Antivirus for security. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in corporate environments where document sharing is frequent, as it allows for stealthy malware propagation through legitimate document channels.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to PrivaWall Antivirus version 5.7 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly recognize and scan Office XML file formats. System administrators should also implement additional layers of protection including email filtering solutions that can detect suspicious Office XML content, network-based intrusion detection systems that monitor for unusual document-related traffic patterns, and user education programs that emphasize the risks of opening unknown Office documents. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to ensure all instances of the affected software are updated and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include regular security audits to verify that file format recognition capabilities are properly functioning across all endpoint protection systems.