CVE-2017-8776 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 have approximately 165 PE files in the default installation that do not use ASLR/DEP protection mechanisms that provide sufficient defense against directed attacks against the product.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8776 affects multiple Quick Heal security products including Internet Security, Total Security, and AntiVirus Pro versions 10.1.0.316. This weakness stems from the absence of critical memory protection mechanisms in approximately 165 portable executable files within the default installation package. The lack of Address Space Layout Randomization and Data Execution Prevention protections creates significant security risks for users of these security solutions. These memory protection mechanisms are fundamental security features designed to prevent exploitation of software vulnerabilities by making it significantly harder for attackers to execute malicious code in memory. Without ASLR, attackers can more easily predict memory addresses where code will be loaded, while the absence of DEP allows execution of code from data pages that should normally be protected. The vulnerability represents a critical flaw in the security product itself, creating a paradox where the software designed to protect users becomes a potential attack vector. This issue directly aligns with CWE-119, which addresses improper restriction of operations within a memory buffer, and CWE-120, which covers buffer overflow conditions. The operational impact is severe as these unprotected PE files could be targeted by attackers seeking to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code within the context of the security software, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical flaw manifests in the specific implementation of memory protection mechanisms within the Quick Heal security suite. The affected software components fail to implement standard security mitigations that have become industry best practices for preventing exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. ASLR protection randomizes the memory layout of processes, making it difficult for attackers to reliably exploit buffer overflows or other memory corruption issues by predicting where their malicious code will be loaded. DEP prevents execution of code from data segments, which is essential for blocking return-oriented programming attacks and other exploitation techniques that rely on executing code in non-executable memory regions. The vulnerability affects a substantial number of files, indicating a systemic issue rather than an isolated problem, suggesting that the security product's developers may have overlooked implementing these protections across their entire codebase. This oversight creates multiple potential attack surfaces within the security suite, as any of the 165 affected PE files could serve as entry points for attackers seeking to compromise the system. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of security best practices and represents a failure to apply the principle of least privilege and defense in depth within the product's architecture.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are particularly concerning for organizations and individuals who rely on Quick Heal security products for protection. Attackers could potentially exploit these unprotected components to gain elevated privileges, bypass security controls, or even use the compromised security software as a launchpad for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability creates a situation where the security product becomes a potential vector for attack rather than a protective barrier, undermining the fundamental trust users place in these solutions. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and script interpreter execution, and T1068, which addresses exploit for privilege escalation. The presence of multiple affected files increases the probability of successful exploitation and provides attackers with several potential attack vectors. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face significant risk of compromise, as the security software that should be protecting them becomes a liability. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these security products are widely deployed, as a successful exploitation could lead to widespread compromise across multiple systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of vendor patches and updates when available, as the security vendor would have likely released fixes addressing the missing memory protection mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts against the vulnerable components. The implementation of additional security controls such as application whitelisting, network segmentation, and enhanced logging can help reduce the attack surface and detect unauthorized activities. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any other potentially vulnerable components within their security infrastructure and ensure that all software components implement proper memory protection mechanisms. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and the necessity of implementing robust security practices throughout the entire software development lifecycle. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar issues in other security products and ensure that all components implement proper memory protection mechanisms. The incident underscores the critical importance of adhering to established security standards and best practices, including the mandatory implementation of ASLR and DEP protections in all security software components to prevent exploitation by attackers targeting memory corruption vulnerabilities.