CVE-2022-43751 in Total Protection
Summary
by MITRE • 11/23/2022
McAfee Total Protection prior to version 16.0.49 contains an uncontrolled search path element vulnerability due to the use of a variable pointing to a subdirectory that may be controllable by an unprivileged user. This may have allowed the unprivileged user to execute arbitrary code with system privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-43751 affects McAfee Total Protection software versions prior to 16.0.49, representing a critical uncontrolled search path element flaw that fundamentally undermines the security posture of the affected system. This vulnerability stems from the software's improper handling of environment variables and directory paths during its execution process, creating a dangerous condition where an unprivileged user can manipulate the search path to redirect execution flow. The flaw manifests when the application uses a variable that points to a subdirectory which can be controlled by a local user, effectively allowing malicious actors to place malicious binaries in strategic locations within the application's search path. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-428, which specifically addresses uncontrolled search path elements, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through the exploitation of environment variable manipulation. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the legitimate behavior of the application to achieve unauthorized code execution with elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly validate or sanitize the paths used in its execution environment, creating a scenario where user-controllable variables can influence the program's behavior. When McAfee Total Protection executes, it searches for required libraries or components in a predefined path that includes variables pointing to subdirectories. An unprivileged user can exploit this by placing malicious executables or shared libraries in these directories, causing the application to execute attacker-controlled code with the privileges of the compromised process. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution, as the application typically runs with system-level privileges, allowing the malicious code to perform actions such as modifying system files, creating new user accounts, or establishing persistent access mechanisms. This represents a classic privilege escalation vector where a low-privilege attacker can leverage the application's legitimate search path behavior to gain elevated system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-43751 is severe and multifaceted, affecting organizations that rely on McAfee Total Protection for endpoint security. The vulnerability creates a persistent backdoor that can be exploited by attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised systems while evading detection mechanisms. Organizations with multiple endpoints running vulnerable versions of McAfee Total Protection face significant risk, as a single compromised machine can provide attackers with a foothold to expand their access within the network. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be automated, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to establish persistent access. Security teams must consider the potential for lateral movement through the network once an attacker has gained system-level privileges, as the compromised endpoint can serve as a launching point for more extensive attacks. The vulnerability also impacts the integrity of the security ecosystem, as the compromised endpoint may be used to bypass other security controls or to hide malicious activities from detection systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-43751 must address both the immediate vulnerability and the underlying architectural issues that enable it. The primary and most effective mitigation is upgrading to McAfee Total Protection version 16.0.49 or later, which contains the necessary patches to prevent the uncontrolled search path behavior. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as restricting write permissions to directories in the application's search path, monitoring for suspicious file creation patterns, and implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized executables from running. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of vulnerable software and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. The mitigation approach should also include monitoring for potential exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection and response systems. Organizations should consider implementing principle of least privilege controls and regularly audit application permissions to minimize the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators can help prevent accidental configuration changes that might inadvertently create similar vulnerabilities in other software components.