CVE-2020-7270 in Advanced Threat Defense
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2021
Exposure of Sensitive Information in the web interface in McAfee Advanced Threat Defense (ATD) prior to 4.12.2 allows remote authenticated users to view sensitive unencrypted information via a carefully crafted HTTP request parameter. The risk is partially mitigated if your ATD instances are deployed as recommended with no direct access from the Internet to them.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7270 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within McAfee Advanced Threat Defense (ATD) versions prior to 4.12.2. This security weakness resides in the web interface component of the ATD platform, which is designed to provide threat analysis and malware detection capabilities for enterprise environments. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of HTTP request parameters, allowing authenticated attackers to extract sensitive data that should remain protected within the system's internal architecture. The flaw specifically manifests when the web interface processes certain HTTP parameters without adequate sanitization or access controls, creating an avenue for unauthorized data exposure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the web interface failing to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied HTTP request parameters that are processed by the underlying application logic. When authenticated users submit carefully crafted requests containing malicious parameter values, the system inadvertently reveals internal information that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. This exposure occurs because the application does not implement proper input validation mechanisms or access control checks before processing these parameters, leading to the disclosure of sensitive unencrypted data. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation" in software systems, and CWE-312, which covers "Sensitive Information Exposure," making it particularly concerning for security-conscious organizations. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass normal access controls through manipulation of HTTP parameters, creating a pathway for information leakage that could compromise system integrity and confidentiality.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-7270 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks by providing attackers with information that could be used for further exploitation. The sensitive data exposed through this vulnerability may include system configurations, internal network details, user credentials, or other confidential information that could be leveraged to conduct additional attacks or escalate privileges within the environment. Organizations using vulnerable ATD instances face significant risk of compromise, particularly if these systems are directly accessible from untrusted networks. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified by the fact that it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that attackers who have gained access to legitimate user credentials can immediately leverage this weakness. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers "Valid Accounts" and T1566 which covers "Phishing", as the vulnerability can be exploited by attackers who have already established some level of access to the system.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to McAfee ATD version 4.12.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. The recommended deployment practices suggest that ATD instances should be configured with restricted network access, ensuring that these systems are not directly exposed to internet-facing traffic. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to ATD components to only authorized administrative personnel and systems that require interaction with the threat analysis platform. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough network monitoring to detect any anomalous access patterns or unusual HTTP request behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review and audit existing access controls to ensure that only necessary personnel have authentication credentials for the ATD system, implementing the principle of least privilege. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security updates and patch management processes. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and additional monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting similar vulnerabilities in their network infrastructure.