CVE-2018-6683 in Data Loss Prevention
Summary
by MITRE
Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels vulnerability in McAfee Data Loss Prevention (DLP) for Windows versions prior to 10.0.505 and 11.0.405 allows local users to bypass DLP policy via editing of local policy files when offline.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6683 represents a critical access control misconfiguration flaw within McAfee Data Loss Prevention (DLP) for Windows systems. This issue affects versions prior to 10.0.505 and 11.0.405, creating a significant security risk that allows local attackers to circumvent established data protection policies. The vulnerability stems from improper access control security levels that are incorrectly configured within the DLP system, specifically when the software operates in offline mode. When users can modify local policy files without proper authentication or authorization mechanisms, they gain the ability to manipulate the security controls that are meant to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access or exfiltration.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of local policy configuration files that are typically protected from unauthorized modification. When McAfee DLP operates in offline mode, the system should maintain strict access controls to prevent local users from altering security policies that govern data protection. However, this vulnerability demonstrates that local users can bypass these controls by directly editing the policy files, effectively rendering the DLP protection mechanisms ineffective. The flaw operates at the file system level where insufficient permission checks or inadequate access control lists prevent unauthorized modifications to critical policy configuration data. This misconfiguration creates a path for privilege escalation where local users can modify security settings without proper authentication, potentially allowing them to disable or alter data protection measures that would normally prevent data loss incidents.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6683 extends beyond simple policy bypass, as it fundamentally undermines the integrity of the DLP system's security posture. Organizations that rely on McAfee DLP for protecting sensitive information face significant risk when this vulnerability is exploited, as local users could potentially modify policies to allow data transfer or access that would normally be restricted. The offline functionality of DLP systems typically implies that security policies should remain intact even when network connectivity is lost, but this vulnerability demonstrates that local access control is insufficiently enforced. Attackers could leverage this weakness to create backdoors, disable security monitoring, or modify policies to permit unauthorized data access or transfer. The implications are particularly severe in environments where DLP is used to enforce compliance with regulations such as pci dss, hipaa, or gdpr, as the vulnerability could result in regulatory violations and data breach incidents.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by upgrading to affected McAfee DLP versions 10.0.505 and 11.0.405 where the access control issues have been resolved. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of local file permissions and access controls on DLP policy files to ensure that only authorized administrative users can modify these critical configuration elements. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, as local users can modify system configurations to maintain unauthorized access. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates weaknesses in defense in depth principles, as the offline protection mechanisms fail to prevent local privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized modifications to DLP policy files, as well as establishing stricter file system access controls and regular security assessments to prevent similar access control misconfigurations from occurring in other security systems.