CVE-2020-7320 in Endpoint Security
Summary
by MITRE
Protection Mechanism Failure vulnerability in McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) for Windows prior to 10.7.0 September 2020 Update allows local administrator to temporarily reduce the detection capability allowing otherwise detected malware to run via stopping certain Microsoft services.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical protection mechanism failure in McAfee Endpoint Security for Windows versions prior to 10.7.0, specifically affecting the September 2020 update release. The flaw resides in the software's inability to properly maintain its security posture when certain Microsoft services are temporarily halted by a local administrator, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors to exploit the reduced detection capabilities. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284 Access Control, which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to bypass security controls.
The technical exploitation occurs when a local administrator executes commands that stop specific Microsoft services that ENS relies upon for its threat detection capabilities. This service interruption creates a temporary gap in the security monitoring framework, allowing malware that would normally be detected and blocked to execute successfully. The mechanism failure stems from ENS's inadequate handling of service dependencies and its failure to maintain continuous protection when critical underlying services are manipulated, demonstrating a fundamental flaw in the software's defensive architecture. This represents a classic case of privilege escalation through service manipulation, where administrative privileges are leveraged to temporarily weaken the security posture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple malware execution, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that organizations place in endpoint security solutions. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass security controls that are supposed to provide continuous protection, potentially allowing advanced persistent threats or zero-day malware to establish a foothold within the network. The temporary nature of the vulnerability means that detection capabilities are only reduced for a limited period, but this window can be sufficient for malware to establish persistence, exfiltrate data, or deploy additional malicious payloads. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where local administrative privileges may be more prevalent, and where the assumption of continuous protection is critical for maintaining security boundaries.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to McAfee Endpoint Security version 10.7.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this protection mechanism failure. System administrators should also review and restrict local administrative privileges where possible, implementing the principle of least privilege to prevent unauthorized service manipulation. Additionally, monitoring for unusual service stoppage events and implementing security awareness training for administrators can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1562.001 for circumventing security controls through service manipulation, and represents a failure in the software's integrity verification mechanisms that should have maintained consistent protection regardless of service state changes.