CVE-2014-8535 in Network Data Loss Prevention
Summary
by MITRE
McAfee Network Data Loss Prevention (NDLP) before 9.2.2 allows local users to bypass intended restriction on unspecified functionality via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8535 affects McAfee Network Data Loss Prevention version 9.2.2 and earlier, representing a significant security weakness that undermines the integrity of access controls within the system. This issue manifests as a local privilege escalation vulnerability that allows unauthorized users with local system access to circumvent intended security restrictions. The flaw specifically targets the restriction mechanisms that govern unspecified functionality within the NDLP solution, creating potential pathways for malicious actors to gain elevated privileges or access restricted system components. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation issue indicates that it requires an attacker to already have local system access but can then be leveraged to expand their privileges beyond what was initially intended. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can potentially allow attackers to bypass critical security controls that are designed to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper implementation of access control mechanisms within the McAfee NDLP software, where the system fails to properly validate or enforce restrictions on certain functionalities that should be limited to authorized users only. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw may involve multiple attack surfaces or could be triggered through various means that were not fully documented in the initial vulnerability disclosure. This ambiguity in the attack vectors makes the vulnerability particularly concerning as it may be exploitable through multiple pathways, potentially including privilege escalation techniques, manipulation of system processes, or exploitation of insecure configurations. The vulnerability represents a failure in the software's security architecture where the intended access controls are insufficient to prevent local users from accessing restricted functionality, potentially leading to data exposure, system compromise, or unauthorized modifications to the security controls themselves. This type of vulnerability can be classified under CWE-276, which specifically addresses improper file permissions or inadequate access control mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through system vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8535 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of organizations that rely on McAfee NDLP for data protection and network monitoring. When local users can bypass intended restrictions, it creates a potential attack vector that could be exploited to access sensitive network data, manipulate security policies, or establish persistent access to the system. The vulnerability could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to data classification systems, modify detection rules, or even compromise the integrity of the entire data loss prevention framework. Organizations using affected versions of McAfee NDLP may experience unauthorized access to protected data, potential data exfiltration, or the ability to disable or circumvent critical security monitoring functions. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where NDLP solutions are deployed to protect sensitive information and where local system access might be obtained through legitimate administrative activities or compromised accounts. This vulnerability could also facilitate lateral movement within networks if attackers use the elevated privileges to access additional systems or resources that were previously protected by the NDLP solution's access controls, making it a critical security concern for organizations relying on this protection mechanism.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-8535 should prioritize immediate patching of affected McAfee NDLP installations to version 9.2.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to address the access control bypass vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive monitoring of system access logs and privilege escalation attempts to detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be reinforced to minimize the potential impact if the vulnerability is successfully exploited, ensuring that local users have the minimal necessary access rights to perform their legitimate functions. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their NDLP implementations to identify any other potential access control weaknesses that could be exploited in conjunction with this vulnerability. System hardening measures, including disabling unnecessary services, implementing strong access controls, and regularly reviewing user permissions, should be implemented to reduce the attack surface and limit the potential damage from successful exploitation. Security teams should also establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address local privilege escalation vulnerabilities in data protection systems, ensuring rapid detection and remediation of any exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for system administrators and security personnel is essential to recognize potential indicators of compromise related to access control bypass attempts and to maintain vigilance against sophisticated attack techniques that may leverage this type of vulnerability.