CVE-2019-3582 in Endpoint Security
Summary
by MITRE
Privilege Escalation vulnerability in Microsoft Windows client in McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) 10.6.1 and earlier allows local users to gain elevated privileges via a specific set of circumstances.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3582 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Microsoft Windows client environments that affects McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) versions 10.6.1 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the interaction between the Windows operating system and McAfee's endpoint protection software, creating an exploitable condition that allows local attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative rights. The flaw exists within the way the McAfee ENS client handles certain system operations and privilege contexts, particularly when processing specific security policies or system calls that should normally be restricted to privileged processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling within the McAfee Endpoint Security client component that operates on Windows systems. When a local user executes specific sequences of operations or interacts with certain system resources while the McAfee ENS client is running, the software fails to properly validate or enforce privilege boundaries. This misconfiguration allows the malicious user to manipulate the client's behavior to escalate their access rights. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal prerequisites for exploitation and can be triggered through normal user interaction with system resources that the McAfee client processes.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant security risk for organizations deploying McAfee Endpoint Security 10.6.1 or earlier versions. Local attackers who can access a system with standard user privileges can potentially gain full administrative control without requiring additional authentication or specialized tools. This escalation capability undermines the fundamental security model of Windows systems, where privilege separation is crucial for containing potential attacks. The vulnerability also affects the broader security posture of enterprises because it can serve as a stepping stone for more extensive attacks, allowing threat actors to establish persistent access, install additional malware, or exfiltrate sensitive data from within the network.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to McAfee Endpoint Security version 10.7.0 or later, which contains patches addressing this privilege escalation vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as disabling unnecessary user access to system resources that might trigger the vulnerability, monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation attempts, and ensuring that all systems are running the latest security patches from both Microsoft and McAfee. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privileges, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, privilege escalation through local exploits, making it a significant concern for security teams implementing comprehensive threat detection and response strategies.
The remediation process requires careful planning to ensure that the patching does not disrupt existing security operations or cause compatibility issues with other enterprise security tools. Organizations should conduct thorough testing in controlled environments before deploying patches to production systems, particularly in large enterprise environments where the McAfee ENS client may be configured with complex security policies. Additionally, security teams should monitor their systems for any signs of exploitation attempts and implement behavioral analytics to detect unusual privilege escalation patterns that might indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability.