CVE-2020-7308 : Security Advisory and Response

McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) for Windows prior to 10.7.0 February 2021 Update is vulnerable to cleartext transmission of sensitive information, potentially allowing remote attackers to intercept data over DNS.

Understanding CVE-2020-7308

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in McAfee ENS for Windows that could lead to the exposure of sensitive information.

What is CVE-2020-7308?

CVE-2020-7308 refers to the cleartext transmission of sensitive information between McAfee ENS for Windows and McAfee Global Threat Intelligence (GTI) servers using DNS, enabling attackers to view and manipulate data transmissions.

The Impact of CVE-2020-7308

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a CVSS base score of 4.8, allowing attackers to intercept requests and send malicious responses by exploiting DNS communication.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-7308

This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves the transmission of sensitive information in cleartext between McAfee ENS for Windows and GTI servers over DNS, potentially exposing data to interception.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) for Windows
Vendor: McAfee, LLC
Versions Affected: < 10.7.0 February 2021 Update

Exploitation Mechanism

By gaining control of an intermediate DNS server or manipulating network DNS configurations, attackers can intercept requests and manipulate responses, leading to potential data exposure.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-7308 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update McAfee ENS to version 10.7.0 February 2021 Update or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor DNS traffic for any suspicious activities that could indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement encryption protocols to secure data transmissions between ENS and external servers.
Regularly audit and review DNS configurations to detect and prevent unauthorized changes.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by McAfee to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.