CVE-2022-28876 in Atlant
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2022
A Denial-of-Service (DoS) vulnerability was discovered in F-Secure Atlant and in certain WithSecure products whereby the scanning the aeheur.dll component can crash the scanning engine. The exploit can be triggered remotely by an attacker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28876 represents a critical denial-of-service weakness affecting F-Secure Atlant and various WithSecure products that utilize the aeheur.dll component within their antivirus scanning engines. This flaw manifests when the system attempts to scan files containing maliciously crafted aeheur.dll modules, leading to complete system crashes and rendering the antivirus protection ineffective. The vulnerability operates at the core scanning engine level, where improper handling of specific file structures causes memory corruption and subsequent system instability. The remote exploitation capability makes this threat particularly dangerous as attackers can trigger the vulnerability without physical access to the target system, potentially disrupting critical security operations. The flaw directly impacts the availability and reliability of endpoint protection services, creating a window of opportunity for additional attacks while the system remains vulnerable and non-functional. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for endpoint denial of service, demonstrating how security tools themselves can become attack vectors. The affected products typically process thousands of files daily through automated scanning mechanisms, making this vulnerability particularly impactful in enterprise environments where security operations depend on continuous protection availability.
The technical exploitation mechanism involves sending specially crafted files containing malicious aeheur.dll components to systems running the vulnerable F-Secure Atlant or WithSecure products. When the scanning engine attempts to analyze these files, it encounters malformed data structures within the aeheur.dll module that cause stack corruption or memory access violations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the scanning engine's file analysis routines, specifically when processing heuristic analysis components. The crash occurs during the dynamic loading phase of the aeheur.dll module, where the system attempts to parse and execute malicious code patterns that exceed expected buffer sizes or contain invalid memory references. This type of vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow under CWE-121, where attackers can manipulate memory allocation patterns to cause system instability. The remote triggering capability means that the vulnerability can be exploited through network-based attacks such as email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing protocols. The system typically crashes with a segmentation fault or access violation error, requiring manual intervention to restore normal operations. The exploitation process requires minimal technical skill and can be automated through readily available attack frameworks, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-28876 extends beyond simple system crashes to create significant security gaps in enterprise protection strategies. Organizations relying on F-Secure Atlant or WithSecure products face potential business disruption when their primary security defenses become unavailable, creating windows of vulnerability for other attack vectors. The DoS condition affects not just individual endpoints but can potentially impact entire network security infrastructures, especially in environments where centralized scanning or security orchestration systems depend on these products. Network administrators must implement emergency response procedures to restore system functionality and investigate potential compromise of other security tools that may have been affected by the same vulnerability. The vulnerability also impacts incident response capabilities, as security teams cannot rely on their scanning engines to detect and analyze malicious files during the period when the system is compromised. This creates a dangerous paradox where the very tools designed to protect against threats become vulnerable themselves, potentially allowing attackers to bypass other security controls while the system remains in a compromised state. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in regulated environments where continuous monitoring and protection are mandatory, as system unavailability may violate compliance requirements and result in significant penalties.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28876 require immediate action to prevent exploitation and maintain system availability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable systems and deploy network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The most effective immediate solution involves applying vendor-provided patches and updates that address the memory handling issues in the aeheur.dll component processing. Security teams should also implement temporary workarounds such as disabling heuristic scanning or quarantining suspicious files before they can be processed by the vulnerable engine. Network administrators should monitor for unusual file scanning patterns or system crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-121 and ATT&CK technique T1499.004 suggests that traditional security monitoring may not detect the exploitation process, requiring specialized monitoring tools. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant security solutions to maintain protection capability during patch deployment periods. Regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other security products and ensure comprehensive protection coverage. The remediation process requires careful coordination between security teams and system administrators to minimize operational disruption while ensuring complete vulnerability resolution. Additionally, organizations should review their incident response procedures to account for scenarios where security tools themselves become compromised, ensuring that alternative detection and response mechanisms remain available during the remediation process.