CVE-2017-6417 in Total Security Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Code injection vulnerability in Avira Total Security Suite 15.0 (and earlier), Optimization Suite 15.0 (and earlier), Internet Security Suite 15.0 (and earlier), and Free Security Suite 15.0 (and earlier) allows a local attacker to bypass a self-protection mechanism, inject arbitrary code, and take full control of any Avira 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 • 08/25/2024
The CVE-2017-6417 vulnerability represents a critical code injection flaw affecting multiple Avira security products including Total Security Suite, Optimization Suite, Internet Security Suite, and Free Security Suite versions 15.0 and earlier. This vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector known as "DoubleAgent" which exploits fundamental weaknesses in the software's self-protection mechanisms. The flaw fundamentally undermines the security posture of these applications by allowing local attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of any Avira process, effectively granting them complete system control.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of Protected Processes functionality in the affected Avira products, creating a exploitable gap in the security architecture. Attackers can leverage Application Verifier Provider DLL injection by manipulating the Image File Execution Options registry keys, which are typically protected by the software's self-protection mechanisms. This registry-based attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates at the Windows kernel level, bypassing standard user-mode security controls. The vulnerability manifests through a specific temporal attack pattern where the attacker temporarily renames the Image File Execution Options registry keys during the attack window, effectively circumventing the intended protection mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6417 is severe and multifaceted, as it transforms a local privilege escalation vulnerability into a full system compromise capability. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can inject malicious code into any Avira process, potentially leading to persistent backdoor access, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within the compromised network. The attack's success rate is high due to the fundamental design flaw in the self-protection implementation, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where these security products are widely deployed. The vulnerability affects the core security functionality of the products, essentially allowing attackers to undermine the very protection mechanisms designed to defend against such attacks.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code" and specifically relates to the execution of arbitrary code through manipulation of process execution options. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a technique for privilege escalation and persistence, falling under T1055 for Process Injection and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. The attack methodology aligns with T1134 for Access Token Manipulation and T1089 for Disabling Security Tools, as the exploitation effectively neutralizes the security software's protection capabilities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including registry key permissions hardening, disabling unnecessary Application Verifier features, and deploying comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized registry modifications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper process isolation and the necessity of implementing Protected Processes as a defense-in-depth strategy against similar attacks targeting security software applications.