CVE-2024-45334 in Antivirus One
Summary
by MITRE • 10/22/2024
Trend Micro Antivirus One versions 3.10.4 and below (Consumer) is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Configuration Update that could allow unauthorized access to product configurations and functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-45334 affects Trend Micro Antivirus One consumer editions version 3.10.4 and earlier, representing a critical configuration management flaw that undermines the security posture of endpoint protection software. This arbitrary configuration update vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the software's update processing pipeline, allowing malicious actors to manipulate configuration parameters that control core antivirus functionalities. The flaw exists in the client-side configuration handling system where the application fails to properly authenticate or verify the integrity of configuration updates received from remote servers or local sources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker can inject or modify configuration parameters that dictate how the antivirus software operates, potentially enabling them to disable security features, modify detection thresholds, or alter the behavior of core protection modules. This arbitrary configuration update capability creates a persistent backdoor within the endpoint protection framework, allowing threat actors to maintain long-term access to affected systems while evading traditional detection mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple configuration changes as it can effectively render the antivirus software ineffective against subsequent attacks by manipulating core security controls.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise and individual users alike, as it enables attackers to compromise the very software designed to protect against threats. The flaw creates a scenario where an attacker can remotely or locally modify the antivirus configuration to disable real-time protection, bypass signature scanning, or redirect threat detection to benign files. This configuration manipulation capability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can be leveraged to establish persistent access within network environments, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on Trend Micro Antivirus One for endpoint security.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically the use of malicious configuration updates to compromise systems. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the latest available updates from Trend Micro, as the vendor has likely released patches addressing this specific configuration validation flaw. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of update traffic can help detect anomalous configuration changes, while implementing strict access controls and endpoint detection and response solutions can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure configuration management practices and proper input validation in security software to prevent attackers from manipulating core protection mechanisms.