CVE-2017-5565 in Maximum Security
Summary
by MITRE
Code injection vulnerability in Trend Micro Maximum Security 11.0 (and earlier), Internet Security 11.0 (and earlier), and Antivirus+ Security 11.0 (and earlier) allows a local attacker to bypass a self-protection mechanism, inject arbitrary code, and take full control of any Trend Micro process via a "DoubleAgent" attack. One perspective on this issue is that (1) these products do not use the Protected Processes feature, and therefore an attacker can enter an arbitrary Application Verifier Provider DLL under Image File Execution Options in the registry; (2) the self-protection mechanism is intended to block all local processes (regardless of privileges) from modifying Image File Execution Options for these products; and (3) this mechanism can be bypassed by an attacker who temporarily renames Image File Execution Options during the attack.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2024
The CVE-2017-5565 vulnerability represents a critical code injection flaw affecting Trend Micro security products including Maximum Security, Internet Security, and Antivirus+ Security versions 11.0 and earlier. This vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector known as DoubleAgent that specifically targets the self-protection mechanisms of these security applications. The flaw enables local attackers to circumvent protective measures and inject arbitrary code into Trend Micro processes, ultimately achieving complete system control through a carefully orchestrated attack methodology.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of Protected Processes feature in Trend Micro products, creating a fundamental security gap in their architecture. Attackers exploit this weakness by leveraging the Application Verifier Provider DLL functionality within the Windows registry under Image File Execution Options. This registry location normally serves as a legitimate debugging and verification mechanism, but becomes a critical attack surface when improperly protected. The vulnerability manifests because the self-protection mechanisms designed to prevent unauthorized modification of Image File Execution Options for Trend Micro processes can be effectively bypassed through a specific temporal renaming technique.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5565 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, representing a complete compromise of the targeted security software's integrity. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of any Trend Micro process, effectively neutralizing the security protection these applications are designed to provide. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where an attacker can manipulate the very security software meant to protect the system, potentially enabling further attacks including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and persistent system compromise. The attack methodology specifically targets the timing window during which registry modifications occur, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent.
This vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity frameworks and threat modeling categories, including CWE-94 for code injection and CWE-269 for improper privilege management. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, the vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The attack pattern demonstrates characteristics of living off the land techniques where attackers utilize legitimate Windows debugging features against the security software they are attempting to compromise. Organizations implementing these vulnerable Trend Micro products face significant risk of complete system compromise, as the vulnerability essentially allows attackers to subvert the security controls designed to protect against such attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5565 require immediate patching of affected Trend Micro products to version 11.0.1000 or later, which includes fixes for the DoubleAgent attack vector. System administrators should implement registry monitoring and access control measures to prevent unauthorized modifications to Image File Execution Options for security applications. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, enabling Windows Defender Application Control, and conducting regular security assessments to identify potential registry manipulation attempts. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual process behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of protecting security software from modification attacks and demonstrates the necessity of robust process integrity checking mechanisms in enterprise security environments.