CVE-2019-14688 : Security Advisory and Response

Trend Micro has recently redesigned the installation packages for several products due to a vulnerability involving DLL hijacking. This CVE affects various Trend Micro products during the initial installation process.

Understanding CVE-2019-14688

This CVE involves a DLL hijacking issue that could be exploited during the installation of specific Trend Micro products.

What is CVE-2019-14688?

The vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit a DLL hijacking issue during the initial installation of affected Trend Micro products.

The Impact of CVE-2019-14688

The vulnerability can only be exploited during the initial installation process by an authorized user.
An attacker must convince the target to download a malicious DLL file locally for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14688

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Trend Micro repackaged installers for affected products due to a DLL hijack vulnerability.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products affected include Trend Micro IM Security, Control Manager, OfficeScan, Endpoint Sensor, Security, ScanMail for Microsoft Exchange, ServerProtect, and Mobile Security Enterprise.
Versions impacted: IMS 1.6.5, TMCM 7.0, OSCE XG, TMES 1.6, Trend Micro Security 2019, SMEX 14.0, SPNT 5.8/6.0, TMMS Enterprise 9.8.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by persuading the target to download and store a malicious DLL file locally for the installer to run.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2019-14688.

Immediate Steps to Take

Ensure authorized users are cautious during the installation of Trend Micro products.
Regularly update security software to the latest versions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Educate users on the risks of downloading and running files from untrusted sources.
Implement security awareness training to recognize social engineering tactics.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Trend Micro to address the DLL hijacking vulnerability.