CVE-2019-3628 in Enterprise Security Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Privilege escalation in McAfee Enterprise Security Manager (ESM) 11.x prior to 11.2.0 allows authenticated user to gain access to a core system component via incorrect access control.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3628 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within McAfee Enterprise Security Manager version 11.x prior to 11.2.0. This issue affects organizations relying on McAfee's security infrastructure for enterprise-level threat detection and response capabilities. The vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms that allow authenticated users to bypass intended security boundaries and gain unauthorized access to core system components. Such a flaw fundamentally undermines the security model of the platform, potentially enabling attackers with legitimate user credentials to escalate their privileges and access sensitive system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves insufficient validation of user permissions and access controls within the ESM architecture. When authenticated users interact with the system, the application fails to properly enforce authorization checks for critical system components that should only be accessible to administrators or system-level processes. This misconfiguration creates a pathway where regular authenticated users can manipulate system calls or access interfaces that should be restricted. The flaw likely resides in the application's permission model implementation, potentially involving inadequate input validation, missing access control lists, or flawed privilege verification routines that are categorized under CWE-284 - Improper Access Control. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear breakdown in the principle of least privilege, where users can escalate their access beyond what is intended for their role.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, creating substantial risk for enterprise security environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive system configurations, modify security policies, access encrypted data, or even compromise the integrity of the entire security monitoring infrastructure. This compromise could result in complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or the ability to hide malicious activities from detection. The implications are particularly severe for organizations using ESM for critical security operations, as this vulnerability could allow attackers to undermine the very security controls designed to protect against threats. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, enabling lateral movement and persistence within the enterprise network.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to McAfee ESM version 11.2.0 or later, which contains the necessary access control fixes. Security administrators should also conduct thorough privilege reviews to ensure that user accounts maintain only the minimum necessary permissions for their roles. Network segmentation and monitoring of system access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive audit logging to track access to critical system components and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing privilege escalation scenarios. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and demonstrates how even authenticated users can pose significant threats when proper access controls are absent, making this issue a prime candidate for inclusion in regular security assessments and penetration testing procedures.