CVE-2012-5879 in ePolicy Orchestrator
Summary
by MITRE
An ActiveX control in McHealthCheck.dll in McAfee Virtual Technician (MVT) and ePO-MVT 6.5.0.2101 and earlier allows remote attackers to modify or create arbitrary files via a full pathname argument to the Save method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5879 resides within the ActiveX control implementation of McAfee Virtual Technician and ePO-MVT versions 6.5.0.2101 and earlier. This flaw specifically manifests in the McHealthCheck.dll component which exposes a dangerous Save method that accepts full pathname arguments without proper validation or sanitization. The issue represents a critical security weakness that allows remote attackers to manipulate the file system through maliciously crafted inputs, effectively bypassing normal file access controls and permissions mechanisms.
This vulnerability constitutes a direct violation of secure coding practices and falls under the category of improper input validation as defined by CWE-20. The ActiveX control's Save method lacks adequate parameter validation, enabling attackers to specify arbitrary file paths that can result in file creation or modification operations outside of intended directories. The flaw operates at the system level where the control executes with elevated privileges typically associated with system administration tools, making the potential impact significantly more severe than typical user-level file operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file manipulation as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for persistent system compromise. Remote exploitation allows adversaries to place malicious files in critical system locations, potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks or establishing backdoors for continued access. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access or physical presence, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where McAfee Virtual Technician is deployed across multiple systems. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script interpreter execution, as attackers can leverage the compromised system to execute malicious payloads through the manipulated file system.
The security implications of this vulnerability are compounded by the fact that McAfee Virtual Technician is typically deployed in enterprise environments where it requires elevated privileges to function properly. Attackers who successfully exploit this weakness can create or modify files in system directories, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's characteristics make it particularly attractive for attackers seeking to establish persistent access or escalate privileges, as the compromised ActiveX control can be used to modify system files or create new malicious components that persist across system reboots. Organizations using affected versions should immediately implement mitigations including disabling the vulnerable ActiveX control, applying patches from McAfee, or implementing network-level restrictions to prevent remote access to systems running vulnerable software, as this vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of enterprise systems through unauthorized file system modifications.