CVE-2022-0166 in McAfee
Summary
by MITRE • 01/19/2022
A privilege escalation vulnerability in the McAfee Agent prior to 5.7.5. McAfee Agent uses openssl.cnf during the build process to specify the OPENSSLDIR variable as a subdirectory within the installation directory. A low privilege user could have created subdirectories and executed arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges by creating the appropriate pathway to the specifically created malicious openssl.cnf file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2022
The CVE-2022-0166 vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within McAfee Agent software versions prior to 5.7.5, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in the software's build process and file system permissions handling. This vulnerability specifically targets the OpenSSL configuration file processing mechanism during installation, where the McAfee Agent relies on openssl.cnf to establish the OPENSSLDIR variable as a subdirectory within the installation directory structure. The flaw exists because the installation process does not properly validate or secure the directory paths where configuration files can be placed, creating an exploitable condition that allows unprivileged users to manipulate the build environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a precise pathway that leverages the insecure handling of the OPENSSLDIR variable within the McAfee Agent's build infrastructure. Attackers with low privilege access can create malicious subdirectories within the installation path and place a specially crafted openssl.cnf file that redirects the OPENSSLDIR variable to their controlled location. This manipulation allows the build process to execute code from the attacker-controlled directory with elevated SYSTEM privileges, effectively bypassing normal user access controls and privilege boundaries. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges for system resources, and CWE-73, which covers external control of file name or path, both of which are fundamental concepts in secure software development practices.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0166 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with SYSTEM-level access to affected systems, potentially enabling full system compromise and persistence. Organizations running McAfee Agent versions prior to 5.7.5 face significant risk, as this vulnerability can be exploited remotely or locally by users with minimal privileges, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users may have access to systems. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1547.001, covering 'Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder', as the elevated privileges could be used to establish persistent access mechanisms. The impact is particularly severe because it affects the core security agent that organizations rely on for endpoint protection, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls and gain complete administrative access to systems.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to McAfee Agent version 5.7.5 or later, which addresses this vulnerability through proper validation of the OPENSSLDIR variable and secure handling of configuration file paths. System administrators should also conduct thorough security audits to identify any instances where the vulnerable version is still deployed and ensure proper file system permissions are enforced on McAfee Agent installation directories. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in build processes, particularly when dealing with system-level configuration files that may influence privilege escalation paths. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider implementing additional controls such as file integrity monitoring and privilege access controls to detect and prevent unauthorized manipulation of critical system components.