CVE-2021-31840 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability in the preloading mechanism of specific dynamic link libraries in McAfee Agent for Windows prior to version 5.7.3 could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform a DLL preloading attack with unsigned DLLs.

Understanding CVE-2021-31840

This section will delve into the details of the DLL preload vulnerability in McAfee Agent for Windows.

What is CVE-2021-31840?

CVE-2021-31840 is a vulnerability in McAfee Agent for Windows that allows an authenticated local attacker to execute arbitrary code by exploiting the DLL preloading mechanism with unsigned DLLs.

The Impact of CVE-2021-31840

The vulnerability has a high severity level, with an attack complexity of low and availability, confidentiality, and integrity impacts rated as high. A successful exploit would lead to the attacker gaining elevated permissions.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-31840

This section will cover the technical aspects of the CVE, including the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in McAfee Agent for Windows before version 5.7.3 allows an attacker with valid credentials to load unsigned DLLs, leading to unauthorized code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Windows systems running McAfee Agent for Windows versions earlier than 5.7.3.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker needs to have authenticated, local access to the system and inject malicious unsigned DLLs into the preloading mechanism.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we will discuss the steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2021-31840 and prevent future occurrences.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update McAfee Agent for Windows to version 5.7.3 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious activities can help detect potential exploits.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing the principle of least privilege, regularly auditing DLL loads, and ensuring system configurations are secure can help prevent similar attacks in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying security patches and updates provided by McAfee can ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.