CVE-2015-1616 in Data Loss Prevention Endpoint
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the ePO extension in McAfee Data Loss Prevention Endpoint (DLPe) before 9.3.400 allows remote authenticated ePO users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2022
The CVE-2015-1616 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the McAfee Data Loss Prevention Endpoint extension of the ePO platform. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 9.3.400 and creates a significant security risk by allowing remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands. The flaw exists within the ePO extension component that manages endpoint protection policies and configurations, making it a particularly dangerous vulnerability for organizations relying on McAfee's data loss prevention solutions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the ePO extension's database interaction mechanisms. When authenticated users submit data through the ePO interface, the application fails to adequately sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL syntax that bypasses normal authentication and authorization controls. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the database communication pathways used by the ePO extension to store and retrieve endpoint configuration data. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-89: SQL Injection vulnerability where the flaw occurs due to insufficient input sanitization and improper parameterization of database queries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate the underlying database structure and potentially escalate privileges within the DLP environment. An authenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from the database, modify endpoint policies, or even gain access to additional system resources that are normally protected by the DLP framework. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed networks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts and T1046 which involves network service scanning, as attackers could use this vulnerability to expand their access within the network.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to McAfee Data Loss Prevention Endpoint version 9.3.400 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring of database access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege for ePO users and regularly reviewing access controls will reduce the potential impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the critical nature of input validation in preventing database injection attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect anomalous SQL query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched version to ensure that the update does not introduce compatibility issues with existing DLP policies and configurations.