CVE-2019-8285 in Antivirus Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Kaspersky Lab Antivirus Engine version before 04.apr.2019 has a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability that potentially allow arbitrary code execution
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8285 affects Kaspersky Lab Antivirus Engine versions prior to the April 4, 2019 release, representing a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw that poses significant security risks to affected systems. This vulnerability resides within the core antivirus engine component responsible for scanning and analyzing files, making it a prime target for exploitation by malicious actors seeking to compromise system integrity. The heap-based nature of the buffer overflow indicates that the vulnerability occurs when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries in the heap memory segment, potentially leading to memory corruption and unauthorized code execution.
The technical flaw manifests when the antivirus engine processes specially crafted malicious files that trigger improper memory handling during file analysis operations. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specific file formats that cause the engine to allocate insufficient memory for processing, subsequently leading to buffer overflow conditions. The heap corruption resulting from this vulnerability can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the antivirus process, which typically runs with elevated system permissions. This exploitation vector represents a severe security weakness as it allows adversaries to bypass traditional security controls and potentially gain full system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution through compromised security software.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8285 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware payloads within the compromised environment. Organizations running vulnerable Kaspersky Antivirus versions face significant exposure since the antivirus software itself becomes a potential attack vector rather than a protective measure. The vulnerability affects not only individual endpoints but also enterprise environments where Kaspersky antivirus solutions are deployed across multiple systems, creating widespread potential for lateral movement and data breaches. Security teams must consider that successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to network resources, as the compromised antivirus engine could be used to monitor network traffic or manipulate security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8285 primarily involve immediate deployment of the patched Kaspersky Antivirus Engine version released on April 4, 2019, which addresses the heap overflow vulnerability through proper memory management and bounds checking. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable versions and prioritize patching efforts accordingly. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit the impact of potential exploitation, monitoring for suspicious process behavior, and maintaining robust backup and recovery procedures. Security professionals should also consider temporary disabling of antivirus scanning functionality for critical systems while patches are deployed, though this approach should be carefully weighed against the increased security risk during the patching window. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security software versions and implementing proper software update management processes to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.