CVE-2019-3634 in Data Loss Prevention
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in McAfee Data Loss Prevention (DLPe) for Windows 11.x prior to 11.3.2.8 allows local user to cause the Windows operating system to "blue screen" via an encrypted message sent to DLPe which when decrypted results in DLPe reading unallocated memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3634 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within McAfee Data Loss Prevention Enterprise version 11.x for Windows systems. This security weakness affects all versions prior to 11.3.2.8 and stems from improper memory handling during the decryption process of encrypted messages. The flaw specifically manifests when the DLPe service receives and processes encrypted communications that, upon decryption, trigger the application to read unallocated memory regions. This improper memory access pattern creates a condition where the operating system cannot properly manage the memory allocation, leading to system instability and potential crash scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the DLPe service's failure to properly validate or bounds-check memory allocations during the decryption routine. When an attacker crafts a specially formatted encrypted message designed to exploit this behavior, the decryption process triggers a buffer overflow condition that causes the Windows kernel to encounter invalid memory references. This memory corruption results in a system crash known colloquially as a "blue screen of death" or BSOD, which occurs when the Windows operating system encounters a critical error from which it cannot safely recover. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially allow local privilege escalation or system compromise if exploited effectively.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on McAfee DLPe for data protection and monitoring. The local user requirement for exploitation means that an attacker must already have access to the system to potentially trigger the vulnerability, but this access could be gained through various initial compromise vectors such as phishing attacks, credential theft, or insider threats. The impact extends beyond simple system crashes as the instability could potentially be leveraged to disrupt business operations, compromise sensitive data processing workflows, or provide a foothold for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations using DLPe for critical data protection functions face potential exposure to data loss or service disruption scenarios.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper memory management in security applications. From an attack framework perspective, this weakness could be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and potentially T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of the patched version 11.3.2.8 or later, along with comprehensive monitoring of system logs for signs of exploitation attempts. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to DLPe services and consider deploying additional security controls such as endpoint detection and response solutions to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and security updates should be prioritized to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of the security infrastructure.