CVE-2017-8774 in Internet Security
Summary
by MITRE
Quick Heal Internet Security 10.1.0.316, Quick Heal Total Security 10.1.0.316, and Quick Heal AntiVirus Pro 10.1.0.316 are vulnerable to Memory Corruption while parsing a malformed Mach-O file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8774 affects multiple Quick Heal security products including Quick Heal Internet Security, Quick Heal Total Security, and Quick Heal AntiVirus Pro versions 10.1.0.316. This memory corruption flaw manifests when the affected software attempts to parse malformed Mach-O files, which are the standard executable file format used on macOS and iOS operating systems. The issue represents a critical weakness in the antivirus software's file analysis capabilities and demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and memory management within the product's codebase.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the Quick Heal antivirus engine when processing Mach-O file structures. When encountering a malformed Mach-O file, the parsing routine fails to properly handle memory allocation and deallocation, leading to potential buffer overflows, heap corruption, or other memory-related vulnerabilities. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, though the specific implementation likely involves heap-based memory corruption due to the nature of Mach-O file parsing operations. The vulnerability could be exploited through social engineering attacks where users are tricked into executing malicious files or through targeted attacks where attackers craft specifically malformed Mach-O files designed to trigger the memory corruption during antivirus scanning processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides potential attackers with a means to bypass security protections offered by Quick Heal products. An attacker could craft a malicious Mach-O file that, when scanned by the vulnerable antivirus software, would cause the application to crash or potentially execute arbitrary code within the context of the antivirus process. This creates a dangerous scenario where the security tool becomes a vector for exploitation rather than a protective barrier. The vulnerability particularly affects systems running macOS or iOS environments where Mach-O files are commonly encountered, making it a relevant threat for organizations using Quick Heal products in mixed operating system environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8774 should focus on immediate patch deployment from Quick Heal, as the vendor would have released a security update addressing the memory parsing flaw. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including network segmentation to limit exposure, implementing strict file execution policies, and monitoring for unusual antivirus process behavior. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell, as exploitation could potentially involve shell command execution through compromised antivirus processes. Security teams should also consider implementing behavioral monitoring for the antivirus software to detect anomalous memory access patterns or process crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 controls for system and information integrity.