CVE-2017-16552 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2017-16552, a vulnerability in K7 Antivirus Premium allowing local users to gain privileges and write to arbitrary memory locations. Find mitigation steps and prevention measures here.
K7 Antivirus Premium before version 15.1.0.53 is vulnerable to a privilege escalation issue that allows local users to write to arbitrary memory locations.
Understanding CVE-2017-16552
This CVE entry highlights a specific vulnerability in K7 Antivirus Premium that can be exploited by local users to gain elevated privileges.
What is CVE-2017-16552?
Local users can leverage a set of IOCTL calls in versions of K7 Antivirus Premium prior to 15.1.0.53 to escalate their privileges and write to arbitrary memory locations.
The Impact of CVE-2017-16552
Exploiting this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized write access to critical memory areas, potentially allowing attackers to execute malicious code or manipulate system processes.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-16552
This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
K7 Antivirus Premium before version 15.1.0.53 allows local users to gain elevated privileges by writing to arbitrary memory locations through specific IOCTL calls.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: K7 Antivirus Premium
- Versions Affected: Prior to 15.1.0.53
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by local users through a specific set of IOCTL calls, enabling them to write to arbitrary memory locations and escalate their privileges.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2017-16552 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update K7 Antivirus Premium to version 15.1.0.53 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Limit user privileges to minimize the impact of potential exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly monitor and audit system activity to detect any unauthorized access attempts.
- Educate users on safe computing practices to prevent inadvertent exploitation of vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates for K7 Antivirus Premium to address known vulnerabilities.