CVE-2017-10706 in Antivirus Engine
Summary
by MITRE
When Antiy Antivirus Engine before 5.0.0.05171547 scans a special ZIP archive, it crashes with a stack-based buffer overflow because a fixed path length is used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10706 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the Antiy Antivirus Engine software. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the antivirus engine processes specially crafted ZIP archives, leading to a system crash due to improper memory handling. The issue stems from the engine's use of a fixed path length variable during ZIP archive scanning operations, which creates an exploitable condition where malicious input can exceed the allocated buffer space. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Antiy Antivirus Engine prior to version 5.0.0.05171547, indicating a prolonged period during which systems remained exposed to potential exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This flaw operates through a classic buffer overrun scenario where a fixed-length character array receives more data than it can accommodate. The antivirus scanning process creates a stack buffer that is insufficiently sized to handle the potential path information contained within malicious ZIP archives, particularly those with deeply nested directory structures or unusually long file paths. When the scanning routine attempts to store path information exceeding the predetermined buffer limits, it overflows into adjacent stack memory, potentially corrupting program execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it creates potential attack vectors for adversaries seeking to compromise systems running vulnerable Antiy Antivirus Engine versions. Attackers could craft malicious ZIP archives specifically designed to trigger the buffer overflow condition, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges since it occurs during routine antivirus scanning operations, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where automated scanning is common. Systems that process untrusted files through the vulnerable antivirus engine become susceptible to denial of service attacks or more sophisticated exploitation attempts that could leverage the overflow for privilege escalation.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Antiy Antivirus Engine version 5.0.0.05171547 or later, which addresses the buffer overflow condition through proper bounds checking and dynamic path length handling. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious ZIP archive processing activities and consider temporary disabling of automated scanning for untrusted file types until full patch deployment is complete. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in security software, as antivirus engines often process potentially malicious content without adequate safeguards against malformed inputs. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and file reputation systems to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation attempts from reaching vulnerable systems. This vulnerability exemplifies the critical need for robust software security practices in security tools themselves, as these applications often become targets for exploitation due to their privileged execution context and extensive file processing capabilities.