CVE-2020-10865 : What You Need to Know

An issue was discovered in Avast Antivirus before version 20, allowing attackers to make arbitrary changes to a file via a specific RPC endpoint.

Understanding CVE-2020-10865

This CVE describes a vulnerability in Avast Antivirus that could be exploited by attackers to manipulate a specific file through a vulnerable RPC endpoint.

What is CVE-2020-10865?

The vulnerability in Avast Antivirus allows attackers to modify the Components section of the Stats.ini file using the aswTask RPC endpoint in the Avast Service (AvastSvc.exe) from a Low Integrity process.

The Impact of CVE-2020-10865

The impact of this vulnerability is that attackers can make unauthorized changes to critical files, potentially leading to system compromise or data manipulation.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-10865

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability exists in the Avast Antivirus software before version 20, specifically in the aswTask RPC endpoint, allowing unauthorized changes to the Stats.ini file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Avast Antivirus
Affected Version: Before version 20

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious RPC requests to the aswTask endpoint from a Low Integrity process, enabling them to alter the Components section of the Stats.ini file.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Avast Antivirus to the latest version to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor system files for any unauthorized changes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict access to critical system components.
Regularly review and update security configurations to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe computing practices to minimize the risk of exploitation.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Avast to address this vulnerability and enhance overall system security.