CVE-2020-7309 in Application Control
Summary
by MITRE
Cross Site Scripting vulnerability in ePO extension in McAfee Application Control (MAC) prior to 8.3.1 allows administrators to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via specially crafted input in the policy discovery section.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7309 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the McAfee Application Control (MAC) product line, specifically affecting the ePO extension component. This security weakness exists in versions prior to 8.3.1 and creates a significant attack surface for malicious actors targeting administrators who manage the application control policies. The vulnerability manifests in the policy discovery section of the ePO extension, where specially crafted input can be exploited to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's user interface.
This cross site scripting vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the policy discovery functionality. The flaw allows an attacker to manipulate the input fields that handle policy discovery data, potentially enabling them to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim administrator's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative interface of a security product, which typically operates with elevated privileges and sensitive data access. When an administrator interacts with the compromised policy discovery section, the injected scripts can execute in their browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the security infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to escalate their privileges within the MAC environment. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability maps directly to Cross Site Scripting, which is a well-documented weakness in web applications where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The attack vector leverages the trust relationship between the administrator and the MAC interface, potentially allowing an attacker to execute malicious code in the context of the administrator's session. This creates opportunities for attackers to access sensitive configuration data, modify security policies, or even gain unauthorized access to other systems within the network that are managed by the compromised MAC environment.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through malicious script injection. The vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering campaigns targeting administrators, where crafted policy discovery data is delivered to the MAC environment. Organizations using affected versions of McAfee Application Control should prioritize immediate remediation, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring authentication to the MAC system itself. The most effective mitigations include upgrading to McAfee Application Control version 8.3.1 or later, implementing proper input validation controls, and conducting regular security assessments of administrative interfaces to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the security infrastructure.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of securing administrative interfaces within security products, as these components often serve as primary attack targets for sophisticated adversaries. The vulnerability demonstrates how even security-focused applications can contain flaws that undermine their protective capabilities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and vulnerability management processes. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and detection mechanisms to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting administrative interfaces, as the injection of malicious scripts may not be immediately apparent to security personnel. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining current security patches and updates, particularly for components that handle sensitive administrative functions within enterprise security ecosystems.