CVE-2020-7314 in McAfee
Summary
by MITRE
Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in the installer in McAfee Data Exchange Layer (DXL) Client for Mac shipped with McAfee Agent (MA) for Mac prior to MA 5.6.6 allows local users to run commands as root via incorrectly applied permissions on temporary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7314 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the McAfee Data Exchange Layer (DXL) Client installation process on macOS systems. This issue specifically affects installations shipped with McAfee Agent (MA) for Mac versions prior to 5.6.6, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these protection mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from improper permission settings applied to temporary files created during the installation process, which allows local attackers to exploit these weaknesses and execute arbitrary commands with elevated root privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of temporary files that are created during the DXL client installation. These temporary files are improperly configured with overly permissive access controls, typically featuring world-writable permissions or other insecure ownership settings that enable a local user to modify or replace these files. When the installer process executes, it processes these temporary files without adequate validation or security checks, allowing an attacker to inject malicious code or alter the installation behavior. This misconfiguration creates a direct path for privilege escalation as the installer typically runs with elevated privileges to perform system-level operations, and the insecure temporary file handling enables the attacker to influence the installation process and gain root access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the affected McAfee products. Organizations using vulnerable versions of McAfee Agent for Mac face potential system compromise where local attackers can execute arbitrary code with root privileges, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor establishment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the installation process itself, meaning that even if a system appears secure, the mere presence of the vulnerable software creates an attack vector that can be exploited by any local user. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes insecure file permissions, and represents a classic example of how improper access control can lead to privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-7314 require immediate action to upgrade affected systems to McAfee Agent version 5.6.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the insecure temporary file permissions. Organizations should also conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable versions of the software and implement monitoring for suspicious installation activities or unauthorized modifications to temporary file locations. Security teams should consider implementing additional controls such as file integrity monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized changes to installation directories and temporary file locations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) and T1546 (Event Triggered Execution), as attackers can leverage the installer process to achieve elevated privileges and establish persistence. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper secure coding practices and privilege separation during installation processes, emphasizing the need for principle of least privilege implementation even during system-level operations.