CVE-2018-18329 in Trend Micro
Summary
by MITRE
A KERedirect Untrusted Pointer Dereference Privilege Escalation vulnerability in Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac (Consumer) 7.0 (2017) and above could allow a local attacker to escalate privileges on vulnerable installations. The issue results from the lack of proper validation function on 0x6F4E offset user-supplied buffer. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18329 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac versions 7.0 and later, specifically affecting consumer editions released in 2017. This issue manifests as a KERedirect Untrusted Pointer Dereference vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the security boundaries of the antivirus software. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the kernel extension component of the antivirus solution, creating a pathway for malicious code execution that bypasses normal privilege restrictions. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only local execution privileges to exploit, making it accessible to attackers who have already compromised the system through other means.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of a user-supplied buffer at the specific memory offset 0x6F4E, where the kernel extension fails to properly validate input parameters before dereferencing pointers. This unvalidated pointer dereference creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can be used to manipulate kernel memory structures, ultimately allowing privilege escalation from user-level to kernel-level execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference issues, though this instance involves untrusted pointer manipulation rather than simple NULL dereference. The kernel extension's failure to implement proper bounds checking and validation mechanisms at this critical offset creates an exploitable entry point that bypasses standard kernel security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to gain complete control over the target system's kernel space. This level of access allows for persistent backdoor installation, system monitoring, data exfiltration, and complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the core security functionality of the antivirus software, essentially creating a security bypass that undermines the very protection the software is designed to provide. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can modify system files, disable security features, and maintain persistent access without detection, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where these antivirus solutions are commonly deployed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-18329 should focus on immediate patching of affected Trend Micro Antivirus versions, as the vendor has released updates addressing the pointer validation issue. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized code execution on vulnerable systems. Network segmentation and privilege separation practices can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of kernel-level input validation and proper memory management practices as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing behavioral monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous kernel extension activity, as traditional signature-based detection may not identify this type of exploit. Regular security assessments of kernel extensions and third-party security software components remain essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.