CVE-2019-3599 in McAfee
Summary
by MITRE
Information Disclosure vulnerability in Remote logging (which is disabled by default) in McAfee Agent (MA) 5.x allows remote unauthenticated users to access sensitive information via remote logging when it is enabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3599 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within McAfee Agent version 5.x that affects the remote logging functionality. This vulnerability exists in a component that is disabled by default, creating a potential security risk when administrators inadvertently enable remote logging capabilities. The flaw specifically targets the remote logging mechanism within the McAfee Agent framework, which is designed to collect and transmit system information for centralized monitoring and management purposes. When this feature is enabled, it creates an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and validation mechanisms within the remote logging implementation, allowing unauthenticated network connections to retrieve confidential data from systems running affected McAfee Agent versions. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and proper authentication enforcement within the security architecture.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through network-based attacks that target the remote logging service endpoint when it has been enabled on the system. Attackers can send specially crafted network requests to the remote logging port without requiring valid credentials or authentication tokens, thereby bypassing normal security controls that would typically protect sensitive system information. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in access control mechanisms, aligning with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control vulnerabilities. The flaw allows attackers to extract various types of sensitive information including system configuration details, user data, and potentially system identifiers that could be used for further exploitation. The remote logging functionality, when enabled, creates a persistent network endpoint that remains accessible to any network entity capable of reaching the system, regardless of authentication status. This design flaw violates fundamental security principles and creates an unintended information flow that exposes system internals to unauthorized parties.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the sensitive data accessible through the remote logging channel could provide attackers with valuable intelligence for subsequent attack phases. The information obtained may include system identifiers, configuration parameters, and potentially user-related data that could be leveraged for privilege escalation, lateral movement, or targeted attacks against the compromised systems. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where McAfee Agent is deployed for endpoint protection and management, as it creates a persistent threat vector that remains active whenever remote logging is enabled. The default disabled state of the feature provides some protection, but the vulnerability exists in the configuration management aspect of the product, where administrators might enable the feature without fully understanding the security implications. Organizations running multiple systems with McAfee Agent 5.x are at risk, especially those that have enabled remote logging for operational convenience without proper security assessment. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security design in the product's configuration management system, as it fails to properly validate that enabling remote logging requires appropriate security controls to be implemented.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-3599 should focus on immediate configuration management and network security controls. Organizations should ensure that remote logging is disabled unless absolutely required for operational purposes, and when enabled, should implement strict network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure. Network administrators should deploy firewall rules to block access to the remote logging ports from unauthorized networks and implement intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious activity targeting these endpoints. The recommended approach aligns with the ATT&CK framework's defensive strategies for access control and network segmentation, specifically addressing techniques related to unauthorized access and information discovery. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify systems with remote logging enabled, and administrators should follow the principle of least privilege by only enabling necessary features with appropriate security controls in place. Software vendors should also provide clear documentation and warnings about the security implications of enabling remote logging features, and organizations should implement configuration management policies that prevent unauthorized enabling of potentially risky features. Additionally, regular patching and updates should be prioritized to address known vulnerabilities in endpoint security products, as this vulnerability represents a design flaw that could potentially be exploited in various attack scenarios.