CVE-2017-8308 : Security Advisory and Response

In previous versions of Avast Antivirus, a vulnerability allowed unprivileged users to mark any process as Trusted, bypassing the Self-Defense feature and potentially exposing the system to attacks.

Understanding CVE-2017-8308

What is CVE-2017-8308?

In Avast Antivirus versions before v17, unprivileged users could designate any process as Trusted, circumventing the Self-Defense mechanism and creating a security loophole.

The Impact of CVE-2017-8308

The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized processes being marked as Trusted, enabling potential attacks on various components within Avast Antivirus.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-8308

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Avast Antivirus versions prior to v17 allowed users without special privileges to mark processes as Trusted, bypassing the Self-Defense feature.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Avast Antivirus
Vendor: Avast
Versions: All versions before v17

Exploitation Mechanism

Unprivileged users could exploit the vulnerability to designate any process as Trusted, providing an opportunity for attacks on Avast components.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Avast Antivirus to version 17 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor and review Trusted processes within the antivirus software.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user capabilities.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Avast to apply patches promptly.