CVE-2018-18332 in OfficeScan XG
Summary
by MITRE
A Trend Micro OfficeScan XG weak file permissions vulnerability may allow an attacker to potentially manipulate permissions on some key files to modify other files and folders on vulnerable installations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18332 represents a critical weak file permissions issue within Trend Micro OfficeScan XG software installations. This weakness stems from improper access control mechanisms that govern how file system permissions are configured for key system components. The flaw allows unauthorized users to manipulate file permissions on critical OfficeScan XG files, potentially creating a pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized system modifications. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where OfficeScan XG serves as a critical security control for endpoint protection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly enforce mandatory access controls on sensitive files and directories. When OfficeScan XG installs on a system, certain configuration files, log directories, and executable components are created with insufficiently restrictive permissions. Attackers can exploit this by leveraging legitimate administrative functions or by directly manipulating file system attributes to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the permission model implementation where default security settings do not adequately restrict access to core system files that should remain protected from modification by unauthorized entities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Trend Micro OfficeScan XG for endpoint security. An attacker who successfully exploits this weakness could potentially modify critical security policies, disable protection mechanisms, or install malicious code that bypasses the very security controls the software is designed to provide. The attack surface extends beyond simple file modification to include potential privilege escalation scenarios that could lead to complete system compromise. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of the security infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to maintain persistent access while evading detection mechanisms.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-732 - Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resources, which specifically addresses cases where applications fail to properly assign permissions to security-critical system resources. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, particularly T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1078 - Valid Accounts. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including manual permission review and correction of affected files, application of official security patches from Trend Micro, and enhanced monitoring for unauthorized file system changes. Network segmentation and least-privilege access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts while security teams work to implement permanent remediation measures.