CVE-2018-15437 in Immunet
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the system scanning component of Cisco Immunet and Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) for Endpoints running on Microsoft Windows could allow a local attacker to disable the scanning functionality of the product. This could allow executable files to be launched on the system without being analyzed for threats. The vulnerability is due to improper process resource handling. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by gaining local access to a system running Microsoft Windows and protected by Cisco Immunet or Cisco AMP for Endpoints and executing a malicious file. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to prevent the scanning services from functioning properly and ultimately prevent the system from being protected from further intrusion.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15437 represents a critical security flaw in Cisco Immunet and Cisco Advanced Malware Protection for Endpoints products running on Microsoft Windows systems. This weakness specifically targets the system scanning component of these security solutions, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on these protective measures. The vulnerability stems from improper process resource handling mechanisms that fail to adequately manage the lifecycle of scanning processes, potentially allowing malicious actors to manipulate the security software's core functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves flawed resource management within the Windows-based security software components. When a local attacker gains access to a system protected by Cisco Immunet or Cisco AMP for Endpoints, they can exploit this weakness by executing malicious files that manipulate the scanning processes. The improper handling of process resources creates a condition where the security software's scanning services can be disabled or rendered ineffective. This occurs because the system fails to properly validate or manage the execution context of processes, allowing unauthorized manipulation of the security service's operational state. The flaw essentially creates a path where legitimate security processes can be terminated or bypassed through malicious code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to represent a complete compromise of the endpoint protection mechanism. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute malicious executables without threat analysis, effectively creating a backdoor for persistent threats. This means that once the scanning functionality is disabled, the system becomes vulnerable to further attacks as the security software cannot properly monitor or analyze incoming files. The vulnerability undermines the fundamental purpose of endpoint protection software, which is to provide continuous monitoring and threat detection. Organizations may experience a false sense of security while the actual protection mechanisms are silently disabled, making them susceptible to advanced persistent threats and malware delivery.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which addresses concurrent execution using improper process or thread management, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059 for executing malicious code. The flaw represents a privilege escalation vector that allows local attackers to undermine security controls. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patch deployment for affected Cisco products, implementation of strict access controls to prevent unauthorized local access, and enhanced monitoring of security service states. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, integrity monitoring, and regular security assessments to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper resource management in security software and highlights the critical need for robust process isolation mechanisms in endpoint protection solutions.