CVE-2014-8533 in Network Data Loss Prevention
Summary
by MITRE
McAfee Network Data Loss Prevention (NDLP) before 9.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to ICMP redirection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8533 affects McAfee Network Data Loss Prevention version 9.3 and earlier, representing a critical remote code execution flaw that leverages ICMP redirection mechanisms. This vulnerability resides within the network monitoring and data protection software designed to prevent unauthorized data exfiltration and detect potential security breaches. The flaw specifically targets the handling of ICMP redirection messages, which are typically used by network devices to inform hosts about better paths to reach destinations. In normal network operations, ICMP redirection is a legitimate protocol feature that helps optimize routing decisions and maintain efficient network communication. However, the McAfee NDLP implementation fails to properly validate and sanitize incoming ICMP redirection packets, creating an exploitable condition that adversaries can leverage for unauthorized system access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted ICMP redirection packets that are sent to the affected McAfee NDLP appliance. When the system processes these malformed packets, it fails to properly validate the packet structure and content, allowing an attacker to inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the NDLP service. This improper input validation and lack of proper packet sanitization creates a direct pathway for arbitrary code execution on the target system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking and input validation mechanisms within the ICMP handling code, which is classified under CWE-129 as improper validation of array index and CWE-770 as allocation of resources without limits or throttling. The attack vector specifically involves sending specially crafted ICMP packets that trigger memory corruption or buffer overflow conditions within the NDLP processing engine.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8533 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it represents a significant compromise of network security infrastructure. Organizations relying on McAfee NDLP for data loss prevention face severe consequences when this vulnerability is exploited, as attackers can gain full control over the security appliance itself. This compromise undermines the very purpose of the security solution, potentially allowing threat actors to bypass data protection measures, access sensitive network monitoring information, or use the compromised appliance as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects organizations that depend on NDLP for network traffic monitoring and data protection, potentially exposing critical business data and network infrastructure to unauthorized access. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control using standard application layer protocols, and T1566 for social engineering through network infrastructure manipulation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to McAfee NDLP version 9.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the ICMP redirection handling vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict ICMP traffic to only trusted sources, particularly limiting ICMP redirection messages to prevent unauthorized packet injection. Additional protective measures include implementing network monitoring to detect unusual ICMP traffic patterns and establishing baseline network behavior for anomaly detection. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and resource management in security infrastructure components, as specified in industry best practices for secure coding and defensive programming. Security teams should also consider implementing network access controls to limit direct network access to NDLP appliances and ensure that only authorized network administrators can interact with these critical security devices. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other network security components and ensure comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.