CVE-2020-7300 in Data Loss Prevention
Summary
by MITRE
Improper Authorization vulnerability in McAfee Data Loss Prevention (DLP) ePO extension prior to 11.5.3 allows authenticated remote attackers to change the configuration when logged in with view only privileges via carefully constructed HTTP post messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2020
The CVE-2020-7300 vulnerability represents a critical improper authorization flaw within McAfee Data Loss Prevention ePO extension versions prior to 11.5.3, demonstrating a fundamental breakdown in access control mechanisms that directly compromises the security posture of affected systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and authorization framework of the McAfee DLP solution, where authenticated users with minimal privileges can exploit a design flaw to escalate their access rights and modify critical system configurations. The issue manifests through carefully crafted HTTP POST requests that bypass normal authorization checks, allowing attackers to manipulate system parameters that should be restricted to administrators or users with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates within a security solution designed to protect sensitive data, creating a dangerous scenario where the very tool meant to prevent data loss can be subverted to enable unauthorized configuration changes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authorization checks within the web interface of the McAfee DLP ePO extension. Attackers can leverage their authenticated session, even when possessing only view-only privileges, to submit specially formatted HTTP POST requests that manipulate the application's configuration parameters. This flaw essentially allows privilege escalation through a lack of proper access control enforcement, where the system fails to verify that the requesting user has sufficient permissions to perform the requested configuration changes. The vulnerability exists at the application layer, specifically within the web services that handle configuration updates, and operates through the standard HTTP protocol without requiring additional exploitation techniques. The flaw demonstrates poor adherence to the principle of least privilege, where the system does not properly enforce authorization boundaries between different user roles and their respective access rights.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-7300 extends far beyond simple unauthorized configuration changes, as it fundamentally undermines the integrity and confidentiality of data protection mechanisms within affected organizations. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can potentially disable security policies, modify data classification rules, alter monitoring parameters, or even redirect data flows to bypass security controls entirely. This capability creates opportunities for data exfiltration, policy circumvention, and the establishment of persistent backdoors within the organization's security infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on McAfee DLP for critical data protection functions, potentially allowing attackers to weaken or eliminate the very security measures designed to prevent data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The impact is particularly concerning for industries subject to regulatory compliance requirements such as healthcare, financial services, and government sectors, where the integrity of data protection systems is paramount.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the vendor-provided patch version 11.5.3 or later, which addresses the improper authorization issue through enhanced input validation and proper authorization checks. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor network traffic for suspicious HTTP POST requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include reviewing user access controls and ensuring that users with view-only privileges cannot perform configuration changes, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the DLP management interfaces, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized configuration changes. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which describes improper authorization in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts with modified permissions, demonstrating how the vulnerability can be leveraged to establish persistent access and escalate privileges within the target environment. Security teams should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, network access controls, and continuous monitoring solutions to detect and prevent similar exploitation attempts in the future.