CVE-2020-7326 in Active Response
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2020
Improperly implemented security check in McAfee Active Response (MAR) prior to 2.4.4 may allow local administrators to execute malicious code via stopping a core Windows service leaving McAfee core trust component in an inconsistent state resulting in MAR failing open rather than closed
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7326 represents a critical security flaw in McAfee Active Response (MAR) software versions prior to 2.4.4, where an improper implementation of security controls creates a dangerous privilege escalation vector. This vulnerability specifically targets the interaction between local administrators and core Windows services within the McAfee security ecosystem, exploiting a fundamental design weakness in how the system handles service termination events. The flaw manifests when administrators attempt to stop critical McAfee services, which should normally trigger proper security validation mechanisms but instead leave the trust component in an inconsistent state. This inconsistency directly violates the principle of least privilege and fails to maintain proper security boundaries that should prevent unauthorized code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate state management within the McAfee Active Response framework, where the system fails to properly validate the integrity of core components during service shutdown operations. When a local administrator stops a Windows service that is part of the McAfee security infrastructure, the system should enforce strict security checks to ensure no malicious code execution occurs. However, the flawed implementation allows the system to "fail open" rather than "fail closed," meaning that instead of preventing execution when security boundaries are compromised, the system permits potentially malicious code to run. This design error creates a dangerous condition where legitimate administrative actions can inadvertently create security holes that attackers can exploit to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential full system compromise and persistent backdoor access. Attackers who can gain local administrator access to a system running vulnerable McAfee Active Response software can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code that bypasses traditional security controls and monitoring systems. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only local administrative privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is more prevalent than expected. This weakness can enable attackers to establish persistence, escalate privileges further, and potentially move laterally within networks where McAfee security products are deployed. The vulnerability essentially undermines the core security posture of organizations relying on McAfee Active Response for endpoint protection.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating all affected McAfee Active Response installations to version 2.4.4 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the flawed state management. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring and logging around service termination events for McAfee components, as this can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which addresses "Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization," and reflects patterns commonly seen in the ATT&CK framework under T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions and ensure proper patch management processes are in place to prevent similar issues in other security components.