CVE-2018-18059 in BitDefender Engine
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Bitdefender Engines before 7.76675. A vulnerability has been discovered in the rar.xmd parser that results from a lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a read past the end of an allocated buffer. Paired with other vulnerabilities, this can result in denial-of-service. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18059 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within Bitdefender's RAR parsing functionality, specifically affecting engine versions prior to 7.76675. This issue resides in the rar.xmd parser component which processes RAR archive files during security scanning operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted RAR files can trigger unexpected memory access patterns. The flaw manifests when the parser attempts to read data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory buffers, potentially causing system instability or complete application termination.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates as a classic buffer over-read condition that maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities in software systems. The issue demonstrates characteristics consistent with memory safety flaws that can be exploited through improper input handling during file parsing operations. The parser's failure to validate the length and structure of RAR file metadata elements creates an exploitable path where attacker-controlled data can cause the application to access memory locations outside the intended buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability typically requires careful manipulation of input data structures to trigger the specific memory access pattern that leads to the overflow condition.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial-of-service scenarios, as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks when combined with other security flaws within the Bitdefender ecosystem. The requirement for user interaction makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where users may encounter malicious RAR files through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway necessitates that users actively engage with malicious content, which aligns with common attack patterns described in the ATT&CK framework under initial access techniques such as spearphishing with malicious attachments. When combined with other vulnerabilities in the security suite, this flaw could potentially enable privilege escalation or information disclosure scenarios that compromise the overall security posture of systems relying on Bitdefender protection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-18059 focus primarily on immediate software updates to Bitdefender engine versions 7.76675 or later, which contain patched implementations of the rar.xmd parser with proper input validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all endpoints receive the security update promptly, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted file content. Network security controls including email filtering, web proxy scanning, and file integrity monitoring should be enhanced to detect and prevent access to known malicious RAR files. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of potentially vulnerable file types and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer over-read issue emphasizes the importance of memory safety practices and proper input validation in security software implementations, aligning with industry best practices for preventing similar flaws in security tooling components.