CVE-2013-7087 in ClamAV
Summary
by MITRE
ClamAV before 0.97.7 has WWPack corrupt heap memory
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7087 affects ClamAV versions prior to 0.97.7 and specifically relates to a heap memory corruption issue within the WWPack decompression functionality. This flaw exists in the way ClamAV processes certain compressed files, particularly those utilizing the WWPack format which is commonly found in various malware samples and potentially legitimate compressed archives. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management during the decompression process, creating conditions where malformed or specially crafted WWPack archives can trigger memory corruption behaviors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when ClamAV attempts to decompress WWPack formatted files without adequate bounds checking or memory allocation validation. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the decompression routine through carefully constructed input data that causes the application to write beyond allocated memory boundaries or corrupt heap structures. This type of heap corruption typically manifests through buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects a widely deployed antivirus solution that processes numerous file types during routine scanning operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on ClamAV for endpoint protection and malware detection. An attacker who can successfully exploit this heap corruption issue could potentially gain remote code execution privileges on systems running vulnerable versions of ClamAV, especially if the antivirus software is configured to automatically scan and decompress suspicious files. The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors within network environments. Additionally, the denial of service aspect of this vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt security operations by causing ClamAV to crash or become unresponsive during critical scanning operations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which describes "Heap Overflow" conditions in memory management, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflow scenarios that are frequently targeted in exploit development. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through fileless malware delivery and privilege escalation, as exploitation could enable attackers to bypass traditional security controls and establish more persistent access. Organizations should consider implementing multiple layers of defense including regular updates, network segmentation, and monitoring for unusual scanning behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of ClamAV version 0.97.7 or later, which includes patched decompression routines with proper input validation and memory management controls. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for ClamAV processes and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts that might leverage this heap corruption flaw.