CVE-2018-6689 in Data Loss Prevention Endpoint
Summary
by MITRE
Authentication Bypass vulnerability in McAfee Data Loss Prevention Endpoint (DLPe) 10.0.x earlier than 10.0.510, and 11.0.x earlier than 11.0.600 allows attackers to bypass local security protection via specific conditions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2023
The CVE-2018-6689 vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within McAfee Data Loss Prevention Endpoint software versions 10.0.x prior to 10.0.510 and 11.0.x prior to 11.0.600. This vulnerability specifically targets the local security protection mechanisms that are fundamental to preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data on endpoint devices. The flaw enables attackers to circumvent the authentication controls that should normally require valid credentials before granting access to protected resources. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of authentication tokens and credentials within the endpoint protection framework, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain unauthorized system access without proper authentication.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authentication flow management within the McAfee DLPe components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating specific parameters or sequences that should normally trigger authentication checks, thereby allowing them to execute privileged operations or access restricted functionalities. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly validate user credentials or session tokens, enabling unauthorized access to the endpoint protection services. This authentication bypass occurs at the local system level, meaning that an attacker who gains access to a compromised endpoint can leverage this vulnerability to bypass the security controls that should normally protect against unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6689 extends significantly beyond simple unauthorized access, as it undermines the fundamental security posture of organizations relying on McAfee DLPe for data protection. When exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to bypass critical data loss prevention controls, potentially enabling them to exfiltrate sensitive information, modify protected data, or deploy malicious payloads on endpoint systems. The local nature of the vulnerability means that attackers who have already gained a foothold on a target system can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges and move laterally within the network. This represents a serious concern for organizations that depend on endpoint protection solutions to prevent data breaches and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. The vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality through unauthorized data access, integrity through potential data modification, and availability through possible system disruption.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the vendor-provided patches for versions 10.0.510 and 11.0.600 respectively. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive vulnerability scanning to identify affected systems, followed by coordinated patch deployment across all endpoint devices running vulnerable versions of the McAfee DLPe software. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect suspicious authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of weak authentication mechanisms and inadequate access control, aligning with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-287 for improper authentication and CWE-305 for authentication bypass. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability are consistent with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and privilege escalation domains, specifically targeting the use of legitimate credentials and system access to bypass security controls. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation, privileged access management, and continuous monitoring to reduce the overall risk exposure from this class of vulnerabilities.