CVE-2018-6674 in VirusScan Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
Privilege Escalation vulnerability in Microsoft Windows client in McAfee VirusScan Enterprise (VSE) 8.8 allows local users to view configuration information in plain text format via the GUI or GUI terminal commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6674 represents a significant privilege escalation flaw within Microsoft Windows client environments running McAfee VirusScan Enterprise version 8.8. This vulnerability specifically targets the configuration management aspects of the security software, creating a pathway for local attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information that should remain protected. The issue stems from improper access controls within the VSE 8.8 implementation, where configuration data that should be restricted to authorized administrative users is being exposed through the graphical user interface and command-line terminal interfaces.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper authentication and authorization checks when accessing configuration information within the McAfee VirusScan Enterprise client. This weakness allows any local user, regardless of their administrative privileges, to retrieve sensitive configuration parameters through standard GUI navigation or terminal commands. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects the integrity of the security software's access control mechanisms, creating a situation where plain text configuration data becomes accessible to unauthorized individuals. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-284 category of Improper Access Control, specifically addressing inadequate privilege management within security applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed configuration data may contain sensitive details such as encryption keys, network parameters, and security policies that could be leveraged by attackers to further compromise the system. Local users with access to the compromised system can exploit this vulnerability to gather intelligence about the security configuration, potentially identifying additional attack vectors or weaknesses in the broader security infrastructure. The vulnerability's accessibility through both graphical and command-line interfaces increases its exploitability and makes it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple user accounts exist on the same system.
Organizations utilizing McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.8 should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the official security patches provided by McAfee and Microsoft to resolve the privilege escalation issue. System administrators should also consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration data. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1003.001 for OS Credential Dumping, as it enables local users to access information that could be used for further credential exploitation or system compromise. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege enforcement should be reinforced to limit the potential damage from such information disclosure vulnerabilities.