CVE-2020-15604 in Security 2019
Summary
by MITRE
An incomplete SSL server certification validation vulnerability in the Trend Micro Security 2019 (v15) consumer family of products could allow an attacker to combine this vulnerability with another attack to trick an affected client into downloading a malicious update instead of the expected one. CWE-494: Update files are not properly verified.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-15604 represents a critical security flaw within Trend Micro Security 2019 consumer products that specifically targets the SSL certificate validation process during software update operations. This weakness falls under CWE-494, which categorizes the issue as incomplete validation of update files, creating a dangerous attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate the update mechanism to deliver harmful payloads. The vulnerability affects the consumer family of Trend Micro Security 2019 products, including various versions of the antivirus and security suite software that were released in 2019.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate certificate validation procedures during SSL/TLS connections used for software updates. When the Trend Micro client attempts to download and install security updates, the system fails to properly verify the authenticity and integrity of the SSL certificates presented by the update servers. This incomplete validation allows attackers to potentially perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable client software. The vulnerability creates a scenario where an attacker could intercept update communications and substitute legitimate update files with malicious ones without detection by the client's certificate validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple software compromise, as it directly undermines the trust model that security software relies upon for maintaining system integrity. Attackers can exploit this weakness to deliver malware disguised as legitimate security updates, potentially bypassing traditional security controls that users expect to protect them. This attack vector represents a sophisticated approach to supply chain compromise where the attack targets the very mechanism designed to protect users from malicious software. The vulnerability enables attackers to maintain persistence on infected systems while evading detection by security solutions that would normally flag malicious code during standard scanning operations.
The security implications align with ATT&CK technique T1070.004, which covers "File Deletion: Indicator Removal on Host," as attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to install malicious updates that could later be used to cover their tracks or maintain access. Organizations and individuals using affected Trend Micro products face significant risk of compromise, as the vulnerability essentially allows attackers to subvert the security software's intended protection mechanisms. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in the security architecture of the update process, where the validation of digital signatures and certificate chains is insufficient to prevent malicious code delivery. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper certificate validation in security software update mechanisms and highlights the potential for attackers to exploit trust relationships in security systems.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of patches provided by Trend Micro, which would address the certificate validation deficiencies in the update process. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual update traffic patterns and consider temporary network restrictions on update servers until patches are deployed. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Trend Micro products and implement alternative security measures while waiting for official patches to be deployed. The vulnerability underscores the need for robust certificate validation processes and proper update verification mechanisms in security software to prevent such attacks from succeeding.