CVE-2018-11006 in K7AntiVirus Premium
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2021
An Incorrect Access Control issue was discovered in K7Computing K7AntiVirus Premium 15.01.00.53.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11006 represents a critical access control flaw within K7Computing K7AntiVirus Premium version 15.01.00.53. This issue stems from improper implementation of access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to bypass legitimate authentication processes and gain elevated privileges within the antivirus software environment. The flaw exists at the application level where the security controls fail to properly validate user permissions and system access rights, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust model.
This vulnerability manifests as an insufficient authorization check that enables local users to perform administrative actions without proper authentication. The technical root cause involves inadequate input validation and privilege separation within the antivirus software's security architecture. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute commands with elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because antivirus software typically operates with high system privileges to perform its core functions, making any access control bypass extremely dangerous. According to CWE classification, this maps to CWE-284: Improper Access Control, which specifically addresses weaknesses in authorization mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to resources or functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to manipulate the antivirus software's configuration, disable security features, and potentially install malicious software that bypasses the very protection the application is designed to provide. The compromised system becomes vulnerable to further exploitation, as the attacker can now modify the antivirus database, alter scan settings, and potentially use the software as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. This creates a dangerous scenario where the security tool becomes a vector for attack rather than a protective barrier, violating fundamental security principles and undermining the trust model that users place in antivirus solutions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-11006 should include immediate patching of the affected K7AntiVirus Premium version to address the access control implementation flaws. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized access attempts and privilege escalation activities within antivirus software environments. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1078: Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage the software's legitimate administrative functions to gain elevated access. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security audits of critical system components to prevent similar issues from arising in other security software implementations.