CVE-2024-7239
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows local attackers with low-privileged access to escalate privileges to SYSTEM level by exploiting a symbolic link handling flaw in VIPRE Advanced Security's Anti Malware Service. It affects installations of VIPRE Advanced Security where an attacker can execute code locally. The vulnerability enables arbitrary code execution with highest system privileges.
💻 Affected Systems
- VIPRE Advanced Security
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with SYSTEM privileges, enabling installation of persistent malware, credential theft, lateral movement, and data exfiltration.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation leading to administrative control of the affected system, potentially enabling further attacks within the network.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper endpoint protection, least privilege principles, and application whitelisting are implemented.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local code execution first, then symbolic link manipulation. The vulnerability is well-documented and relatively simple to exploit.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Not specified in advisory, but VIPRE has released updates
Vendor Advisory: https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-24-1010/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open VIPRE Advanced Security. 2. Check for updates in the application. 3. Install all available updates. 4. Restart the system to ensure the Anti Malware Service loads the patched version.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable VIPRE Anti Malware Service
windowsTemporarily stops the vulnerable service but leaves system unprotected
sc stop "VIPRE Antivirus"
sc config "VIPRE Antivirus" start= disabled
Restrict symbolic link creation
windowsLimit ability to create symbolic links to administrators only
secedit /export /cfg secpol.cfg
Edit secpol.cfg to set 'Create symbolic links' to Administrators only
secedit /configure /db secpol.sdb /cfg secpol.cfg
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict least privilege principles to limit local code execution capabilities
- Deploy application control/whitelisting to prevent unauthorized executables from running
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check VIPRE version and compare against latest patched version from vendor websiteCheck Version:
Check VIPRE interface for version information or examine installed programs in Control PanelVerify Fix Applied:
Verify VIPRE has been updated to latest version and restart system, then confirm Anti Malware Service is running patched version📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual symbolic link creation events in Windows security logs
- VIPRE Anti Malware Service unexpected file deletion operations
- Process creation from VIPRE service with SYSTEM privileges
Network Indicators:
- No direct network indicators as this is a local privilege escalation
SIEM Query:
EventID=4656 AND ObjectType="%%18976" AND ProcessName="*vipre*" OR EventID=4663 AND ProcessName="*vipre*" AND AccessMask="0x10000"