CVE-2020-7331 in Endpoint Security
Summary
by MITRE • 11/12/2020
Unquoted service executable path in McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) prior to 10.7.0 November 2020 Update allows local users to cause a denial of service and malicious file execution via carefully crafted and named executable files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7331 represents a critical security flaw in McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) versions prior to 10.7.0, specifically affecting the November 2020 Update. This issue stems from improper handling of service executable paths where the system fails to properly quote directory paths containing spaces, creating a fundamental weakness in the Windows service architecture. The flaw exists within the service installation and execution process where McAfee ENS components are configured without proper path quoting, allowing attackers to exploit this misconfiguration for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-78, which addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and CWE-829, which covers inclusion of functionality from untrusted control sources. When McAfee ENS installs services with unquoted paths, the Windows service control manager performs a path lookup that can be manipulated by placing malicious executables in parent directories of legitimate service paths. This behavior creates a race condition where an attacker can place a crafted executable file in a directory path that Windows will traverse to find the intended service binary, particularly when the path contains spaces and lacks proper quotation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Local users can exploit this weakness to execute malicious code with elevated privileges, as the service typically runs with SYSTEM-level permissions. Attackers can place executables in directories such as "C:\Program Files\McAfee\Endpoint Security" or other parent directories of the unquoted path, causing the system to execute their malicious payload when the service attempts to start or restart. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, providing attackers with a reliable method to gain persistent access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-7331 require immediate implementation of the McAfee ENS 10.7.0 November 2020 Update, which properly addresses the unquoted service path issue through corrected service installation procedures. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive audits of service configurations to identify any remaining unquoted paths in their environment, implementing proper path quoting through the use of double quotes around all service executable paths. Security teams must perform regular vulnerability assessments to detect similar misconfigurations in other software installations, particularly focusing on services that run with elevated privileges. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for suspicious service creation activities can help detect exploitation attempts before they succeed, while maintaining detailed service configuration baselines to prevent future occurrences of this class of vulnerability.