CVE-2018-6707 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

McAfee Agent Insecure usage of temporary files vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2018-6707

The agent in McAfee Agent (MA) versions 5.0.0 through 5.0.6, 5.5.0, and 5.5.1, which are not for Windows, has a vulnerability that can be exploited by local users to trigger Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, cause unexpected behavior, or potentially execute unauthorized code. This can be achieved by exploiting knowledge of the internal trust mechanism.

What is CVE-2018-6707?

CVE-2018-6707 is a vulnerability in McAfee Agent (MA) non-Windows versions that allows local users to exploit the agent's insecure usage of temporary files, leading to Denial of Service (DoS) attacks and potential unauthorized code execution.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6707

CVSS Base Score: 3.7 (Low)
Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: High
Privileges Required: High
User Interaction: Required
Scope: Changed
Confidentiality Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: None
Availability Impact: Low

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6707

The technical details of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows local users to exploit the insecure usage of temporary files in McAfee Agent (MA) non-Windows versions, potentially leading to Denial of Service (DoS) attacks and unauthorized code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Platforms: x86
Affected Versions:
McAfee Agent 5.0.0 (Custom Version)
McAfee Agent 5.0.6 (Custom Version)
McAfee Agent 5.5.0
McAfee Agent 5.5.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by local users with knowledge of the internal trust mechanism to trigger DoS attacks, cause unexpected behavior, or potentially execute unauthorized code.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the CVE-2018-6707 vulnerability, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to McAfee Agent 5.6.0 to address the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch McAfee Agent to the latest version.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit the impact of potential exploits.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by McAfee to prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities.