McAfee VirusScan 4.5/4.5.1 System Scan race condition

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in McAfee VirusScan 4.5/4.5.1. The affected element is an unknown function of the component System Scan. Such manipulation leads to race condition. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2004-0831. The attack can only be initiated within the local network. Moreover, an exploit is present. It is best to exchange the affected component with an alternative.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in McAfee VirusScan 4.5/4.5.1 (Anti-Malware Software) and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component System Scan. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a race condition vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-362. The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, and the code sequence requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence that is operating concurrently. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

McAfee VirusScan 4.5.1 does not drop SYSTEM privileges before allowing users to browse for files via the "System Scan" properties of the System Tray applet, which could allow local users to gain privileges.

The bug was discovered 08/12/2004. The weakness was disclosed 09/14/2004 by Ian Vitek with iDEFENSE (Website). The advisory is available at idefense.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2004-0831 since 09/07/2004. The attack can only be initiated within the local network. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

After immediately, there has been an exploit disclosed. The exploit is available at idefense.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 33 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 38312 (McAfee VirusScan System Scan Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at mcafee.com. The problem might be mitigated by replacing the product with as an alternative. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be establishing an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (17367), SecurityFocus (BID 11181†), OSVDB (9949†), Secunia (SA12506†) and SecurityTracker (ID 1011272†). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.0
VulDB Temp Score: 4.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Race condition
CWE: CWE-362
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Alternative
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍

Patch: mcafee.com

Timelineinfo

08/12/2004 🔍
09/07/2004 +26 days 🔍
09/14/2004 +7 days 🔍
09/14/2004 +0 days 🔍
09/14/2004 +0 days 🔍
09/14/2004 +0 days 🔍
09/14/2004 +0 days 🔍
09/14/2004 +0 days 🔍
09/15/2004 +0 days 🔍
09/15/2004 +0 days 🔍
09/15/2004 +0 days 🔍
12/14/2006 +820 days 🔍
07/07/2025 +6780 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: mcafee.com

Advisory: idefense.com⛔
Researcher: Ian Vitek
Organization: iDEFENSE
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2004-0831 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2004-0831
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-842
X-Force: 17367 - McAfee VirusScan allows elevated privileges, High Risk
SecurityFocus: 11181 - McAfee VirusScan System Scan Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Secunia: 12506 - McAfee VirusScan System Scan Privilege Escalation Vulnerability, Less Critical
OSVDB: 9949 - McAfee VirusScan System Scan Privilege Escalation
SecurityTracker: 1011272
Vulnerability Center: 13327 - McAfee VirusScan Enables Local Privilege Escalation, High

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 09/15/2004 14:48
Updated: 07/07/2025 17:37
Changes: 09/15/2004 14:48 (84), 06/29/2019 11:10 (5), 07/07/2025 17:37 (23)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:A8A:103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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