May 2007

ID: 130
Ref: 072/2007
Date: 09 May 2007:11:56:04
Version: 1

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Title: iDefense Security Advisory: McAfee Security Center IsOldAppInstalled ActiveX Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Abstract: Remote exploitation of a buffer overflow in an ActiveX control distributed with McAfee Security Center could allow for the execution of arbitrary code.
Vendors affected: McAfee
Applications affected: McAfee

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Advisory link: http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php?id=528

I. BACKGROUND

McAfee Security Center is a centralized configuration GUI utilized to control and monitor McAfee Security products such as their AntiVirus, Firewall and AntiSpam products. More information can be found on the vendor's site at the following URL.

http://us.mcafee.com/root/product.asp?productid=msc

II. DESCRIPTION

Remote exploitation of a buffer overflow in an ActiveX control distributed with McAfee Security Center could allow for the execution of arbitrary code.

When McAfee Security products are installed, they register the following ActiveX control on the system:

ProgId: McSubMgr.McSubMgr
ClassId: 9BE8D7B2-329C-442A-A4AC-ABA9D7572602
File: MCSUBMGR.DLL, (McAfee Subscription manager module 6.0.0.13)

This control is registered as safe for scripting and contains a buffer overflow in its IsOldAppInstalled() method.

III. ANALYSIS

Exploitation of this vulnerability is trivial and allows for the execution of arbitrary code as the currently logged in user.

In order to be successful, attackers would need to convince a victim to go to a malicious web site. Although this attack requires some social engineering, the level required is considered minimal.

Publicly available COM object fuzzing tools such as COMRaider can find this vulnerability using default settings.

Note that this vulnerability is similar to "McAfee Subscription Manager Stack Buffer Overflow" that was published by eEye Digital Security. At the time of eEye's publishing, iDefense was aware of two additional vulnerabilities within this control. One, located in the GetUserRegisteredForBackend method, appears to have been fixed along with the issue eEye reported. The other is detailed in this advisory.

IV. DETECTION

iDefense confirmed the existence of this vulnerability using McAfee Virus Scan 10.0.27 running on Windows XP SP2. However, many additional McAfee products are reported to install this component.

The vulnerable component includes the versions of the McAfee Subscription manager module listed below.

Version 6.x prior to 6.0.0.25
Version 7.x prior to 7.2.147

V. WORKAROUND

The following workarounds are available for this vulnerability:

Disable Active Scripting
Unregister the vulnerable control
Set the killbit for the vulnerable control

While these workarounds may prevent exploitation they may also adversely affect the operation of the McAfee product and should only be considered as short-term workarounds.

VI. VENDOR RESPONSE

"Security Center 7.2.147 and 6.0.25 address the risk associated with this security flaw. These updates were made available for download on March 22, 2007. Most consumers will receive the updates automatically.

Consumers who have their McAfee products configured to update automatically should have already received the appropriate update and therefore will not need to take further action.

Consumers who have configured their McAfee products to update manually must run an update."

For information regarding the manual update process, refer to McAfee's Security Bulletin at the following URL.

http://ts.mcafeehelp.com/faq3.asp?docid=419189

VII. CVE INFORMATION

A Mitre Corp. Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) number has not been assigned yet.

VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE

08/14/2006 Initial vendor notification
10/17/2006 Second vendor notification
02/07/2007 Third vendor notification
02/08/2007 Initial vendor response
05/08/2007 Coordinated public disclosure

IX. CREDIT

This vulnerability was discovered by Peter Vreugdenhil.

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X. LEGAL NOTICES

Copyright © 2007 iDefense, Inc.

Permission is granted for the redistribution of this alert electronically. It may not be edited in any way without the express written consent of iDefense. If you wish to reprint the whole or any part of this alert in any other medium other than electronically, please e-mail customerservice@idefense.com for permission.

Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition.

There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.

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CPNI wishes to acknowledge the contributions of iDefense for the information contained in this advisory.
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