CVE-2024-0206 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2024-0206 was published on January 9, 2024, and it involves a symbolic link manipulation vulnerability in Trellix Anti-Malware Engine that could potentially lead to an escalation of privileges for an authenticated local user.

Understanding CVE-2024-0206

This vulnerability in the Trellix Anti-Malware Engine prior to the January 2024 release allows an attacker with local access to potentially elevate their privileges through a specific manipulation technique.

What is CVE-2024-0206?

The CVE-2024-0206 vulnerability refers to a flaw in the Trellix Anti-Malware Engine that permits an authenticated local user to gain escalated privileges by utilizing symbolic links in a particular manner.

The Impact of CVE-2024-0206

The impact of CVE-2024-0206 is classified as a high severity vulnerability with a base score of 7.1 according to the CVSS v3.1 metrics. The vulnerability could result in a privileged escalation scenario, posing a significant threat to the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-0206

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, outlining the description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Trellix Anti-Malware Engine allows an authenticated local user to gain escalated privileges by creating symbolic links to files outside their normal permissions. This manipulation occurs within the Trellix ENS registry folder, enabling unauthorized access to critical files.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Trellix Anti-Malware Engine version 6600 and potentially other earlier versions that lack the necessary security patches.

Exploitation Mechanism

By adding an entry to the registry with symbolic links pointing to restricted files, the user can trick the Anti-Malware Engine into following the links during a scan, leading to the removal of unauthorized files.

Mitigation and Prevention

Mitigating CVE-2024-0206 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices to safeguard systems from potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Trellix Anti-Malware Engine to the latest version to eliminate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict access to critical system registries to prevent unauthorized changes.
Educate users on secure practices to minimize the likelihood of privilege escalation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement privilege separation to limit user access to essential system components.
Regularly audit and review registry entries for any suspicious changes or unauthorized symbolic links.
Conduct security training and awareness programs for employees to enhance their understanding of potential security risks.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying security patches and updates from Trellix is crucial to address known vulnerabilities and strengthen the overall security posture of the Anti-Malware Engine. Stay informed about security advisories and implement necessary updates promptly to reduce the risk of exploitation.