CVE-2018-6706 in McAfee
Summary
by MITRE
Insecure handling of temporary files in non-Windows McAfee Agent 5.0.0 through 5.0.6, 5.5.0, and 5.5.1 allows an Unprivileged User to introduce custom paths during agent installation in Linux via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6706 represents a critical insecure temporary file handling flaw within the McAfee Agent for Linux systems. This issue affects versions 5.0.0 through 5.0.6, 5.5.0, and 5.5.1 of the McAfee Agent software, creating a significant security risk for organizations deploying this endpoint protection solution. The vulnerability stems from the agent's improper management of temporary files during the installation process, which can be exploited by unprivileged users to manipulate the installation environment and potentially escalate their privileges within the system.
The technical flaw manifests in the agent's installation mechanism where temporary file paths are not properly validated or secured, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the installation process through unspecified vectors. This insecure handling creates opportunities for attackers to inject custom paths that could lead to arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation. The vulnerability specifically targets the Linux implementation of the McAfee Agent, which operates under different security considerations compared to its Windows counterparts, making the improper temporary file management particularly dangerous in Unix-like environments where file permissions and execution contexts are more granular and complex.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables unprivileged users to potentially compromise the integrity of the McAfee Agent installation process, which serves as a critical endpoint protection mechanism. The exploitation of this flaw could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources, potentially leading to full system compromise or the ability to bypass security controls provided by the McAfee Agent. Organizations relying on this agent for endpoint protection face significant risk as the vulnerability could be leveraged to undermine their security posture, particularly in environments where the agent is installed with elevated privileges or where it serves as a primary defense mechanism against malicious activities.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-377, which addresses insecure temporary file handling, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through compromised installation processes. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the McAfee Agent, reviewing and restricting installation permissions for the affected software, and monitoring for suspicious installation activities. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring, restricted user permissions, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that the temporary file handling has been properly addressed without introducing regressions in the agent's functionality.
This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper temporary file management in security software and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security risks. The issue underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of installation and update mechanisms, particularly in endpoint protection software where the attack surface is already expanded due to the privileged nature of the installed components. Organizations should also consider implementing defense-in-depth strategies that reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities through network segmentation, privileged access management, and continuous monitoring of system integrity.