CVE-2020-7320 : What You Need to Know

A Protection Mechanism Failure vulnerability in McAfee Endpoint Security for Windows prior to version 10.7.0 September 2020 Update allows local administrators to reduce detection capability, enabling malware to run by stopping certain Microsoft services.

Understanding CVE-2020-7320

This CVE involves a vulnerability in McAfee Endpoint Security for Windows that could be exploited by local administrators to bypass detection mechanisms.

What is CVE-2020-7320?

The CVE-2020-7320 vulnerability is categorized as a Protection Mechanism Failure in McAfee Endpoint Security for Windows, impacting versions prior to 10.7.0 September 2020 Update. It enables local administrators to temporarily reduce detection capabilities, allowing malware to execute by halting specific Microsoft services.

The Impact of CVE-2020-7320

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a CVSS base score of 6.7. It has a high impact on integrity and requires high privileges for exploitation, with a changed scope and local attack vector.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-7320

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE-2020-7320 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows local administrators to manipulate McAfee Endpoint Security for Windows, reducing its detection capability and enabling the execution of malware by stopping certain Microsoft services.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Endpoint Security for Windows
Vendor: McAfee LLC
Versions Affected: < 10.7.0 September 2020 Update

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: High
Attack Vector: Local
Availability Impact: Low
Confidentiality Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: High
Privileges Required: High
Scope: Changed
User Interaction: None

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-7320, users and organizations should take immediate and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by McAfee promptly.
Monitor system activity for any suspicious behavior.
Restrict local administrator privileges to minimize the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update McAfee Endpoint Security to the latest version.
Implement a comprehensive security policy to prevent unauthorized system changes.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running McAfee Endpoint Security for Windows are updated to version 10.7.0 September 2020 Update or later to mitigate the vulnerability.