CVE-2019-19792 in Cyber Security
Summary
by MITRE
A permissions issue in ESET Cyber Security before 6.8.300.0 for macOS allows a local attacker to escalate privileges by appending data to root-owned files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-19792 represents a critical permissions flaw within ESET Cyber Security versions prior to 6.8.300.0 on macOS platforms. This issue stems from inadequate access control mechanisms that permit local attackers to manipulate root-owned files through data appending operations, fundamentally undermining the security model of the operating system. The flaw exists in the application's file handling and privilege management implementation, creating an avenue for unauthorized privilege escalation that directly compromises system integrity.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the attacker's ability to leverage the application's insufficient permission checks when performing file operations. The flaw allows malicious actors to append data to files that should only be modifiable by the root user or system processes, effectively bypassing mandatory access controls that are fundamental to macOS security architecture. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-276, which specifically addresses improper file permissions and inadequate access control mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear failure in the principle of least privilege, where the application grants more permissions than necessary for its legitimate operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-19792 extends beyond simple data modification, as it provides attackers with a pathway to escalate their privileges from a regular user account to root level access. This escalation capability enables adversaries to gain complete control over the affected system, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or deployment of additional malicious software. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level of macOS security, where unauthorized access to root-owned files can result in persistent backdoors or complete system takeover. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques under tactic T1068, specifically targeting the exploitation of software vulnerabilities for unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of ESET Cyber Security to version 6.8.300.0 or later, which addresses the underlying permissions issue through proper access control implementation. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security audits to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement monitoring for unauthorized file modifications. The fix likely incorporates proper file permission validation and ensures that applications cannot append data to root-owned files without appropriate authorization. System administrators should verify that the updated version properly enforces access controls and consider implementing additional security measures such as file integrity monitoring and privilege separation to prevent similar issues from occurring in other security applications.