CVE-2017-6186 in Total Security
Summary
by MITRE
Code injection vulnerability in Bitdefender Total Security 12.0 (and earlier), Internet Security 12.0 (and earlier), and Antivirus Plus 12.0 (and earlier) allows a local attacker to bypass a self-protection mechanism, inject arbitrary code, and take full control of any Bitdefender 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2020
The CVE-2017-6186 vulnerability represents a critical code injection flaw in Bitdefender security products that demonstrates a fundamental failure in process protection mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically affects Bitdefender Total Security 12.0 and earlier versions, Bitdefender Internet Security 12.0 and earlier versions, and Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 12.0 and earlier versions, creating a significant attack surface for local adversaries seeking to compromise system security. The vulnerability stems from the absence of Protected Processes feature implementation in these security solutions, which leaves them susceptible to manipulation through registry-based attack vectors that would normally be protected in properly secured environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the DoubleAgent attack technique, which leverages the absence of proper process protection mechanisms within Bitdefender's security architecture. Attackers can bypass the intended self-protection mechanisms by manipulating the Image File Execution Options registry keys, which are typically protected against modification by local processes. The vulnerability exploits the fact that these Bitdefender products do not implement the Protected Processes feature, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary code through the Application Verifier Provider DLL mechanism. This attack vector specifically targets the registry entries that control process execution options, enabling attackers to gain full control over Bitdefender processes through carefully crafted registry modifications.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6186 is severe and far-reaching, as it allows local attackers to achieve complete system compromise through a relatively straightforward attack process. The vulnerability essentially undermines the core security posture of Bitdefender products by enabling attackers to inject malicious code into protected security processes, potentially leading to complete system takeover. This represents a critical failure in the security architecture where the very protection mechanisms designed to prevent unauthorized modifications are bypassed through registry manipulation techniques. The attack's success demonstrates a fundamental gap in the product's defense-in-depth strategy, where the self-protection mechanisms intended to block local process modifications are circumvented through temporal registry key renaming operations that temporarily disable the protection mechanisms.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-78 and CWE-79 attack patterns, representing code injection and input validation failures that allow attackers to execute arbitrary code within protected processes. The attack methodology follows established patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under techniques such as Process Injection and Registry Run Keys/Startup Folder, where adversaries establish persistence and execute malicious code through legitimate system mechanisms. The vulnerability's exploitation demonstrates how the absence of proper process isolation and registry protection mechanisms can create pathways for attackers to subvert security software, fundamentally undermining the trust model that security products are designed to maintain.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6186 should focus on immediate patching of affected Bitdefender versions to address the underlying process protection deficiencies. Organizations should ensure that all affected systems are updated to versions that implement proper Protected Processes functionality and enhanced registry protection mechanisms. Additionally, security administrators should monitor registry modifications to Image File Execution Options and implement registry access controls that prevent unauthorized modifications to security product configurations. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and demonstrates how even sophisticated security solutions can contain fundamental implementation flaws that create exploitable attack vectors for determined adversaries.