CVE-2017-4054 in Advanced Threat Defense
Summary
by MITRE
Command Injection vulnerability in the web interface in McAfee Advanced Threat Defense (ATD) 3.10, 3.8, 3.6, 3.4 allows remote authenticated users to execute a command of their choice via a crafted HTTP request parameter.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2021
The CVE-2017-4054 vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw within McAfee Advanced Threat Defense version 3.10, 3.8, 3.6, and 3.4 web interfaces. This vulnerability resides in the authentication layer of the security platform, where unauthorized command execution becomes possible through manipulated HTTP request parameters. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application's parameter handling processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary commands that the system executes with elevated privileges.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration CWE-77 category, specifically classified as Command Injection, which occurs when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into command execution contexts without proper sanitization. The attack vector requires only authenticated access to the web interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised legitimate users. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of McAfee ATD by allowing attackers to execute commands on the underlying operating system, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive threat intelligence data.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-4054 extends beyond simple command execution, as it enables attackers to manipulate the security platform's behavior and potentially gain access to the broader network infrastructure. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, install backdoors, modify security policies, or extract confidential threat data that the ATD platform is designed to protect. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which covers Command and Scripting Interpreter, allowing adversaries to execute commands through various interfaces including web applications. The affected McAfee ATD versions represent a significant risk to organizations relying on this threat intelligence platform for cybersecurity operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from McAfee, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the ATD web interface, and enforcing strict access controls through multi-factor authentication. Additional defensive measures involve deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious HTTP requests, conducting regular security assessments of the web interface, and implementing network monitoring to detect unusual command execution patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper parameter handling in web applications, as highlighted by industry standards and best practices for secure coding. Organizations must also consider the broader implications of compromised threat intelligence platforms, as these systems often contain sensitive information about network vulnerabilities and attack patterns that could be exploited by adversaries to conduct more sophisticated attacks against their infrastructure.