CVE-2020-7314 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2020-7314, a high-severity privilege escalation vulnerability in McAfee DXL for Mac, allowing local users to run commands as root. Find out how to mitigate and prevent this security issue.
A privilege escalation vulnerability in McAfee DXL for Mac allows local users to run commands as root via incorrectly applied permissions on temporary files.
Understanding CVE-2020-7314
What is CVE-2020-7314?
CVE-2020-7314 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in the installer of McAfee Data Exchange Layer (DXL) Client for Mac, shipped with McAfee Agent (MA) for Mac.
The Impact of CVE-2020-7314
The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 8.2, indicating a high severity level with significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-7314
Vulnerability Description
The flaw allows local users to escalate privileges and execute commands as root by exploiting incorrectly set permissions on temporary files during the installation process.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected Product: McAfee DXL for Mac shipped with MA
- Affected Version: 5.6.x (specifically versions less than 5.6.6)
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attack Vector: Local
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Privileges Required: Low
- User Interaction: Required
- Scope: Changed
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update McAfee Agent (MA) for Mac to version 5.6.6 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor for any unauthorized system changes or commands executed with elevated privileges.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly review and adjust file permissions to prevent unauthorized access.
- Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict users' access rights.
Patching and Updates
- Stay informed about security updates and patches released by McAfee to address known vulnerabilities in their products.