CVE-2021-45336:Privilege escalation vulnerability in Avast Antivirus Sandbox component allows local sandboxed code to escape and gain SYSTEM privileges.

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A vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45336 affects the Sandbox component of Avast Antivirus versions prior to 20.4. This security flaw allows malicious code that is already running within the sandbox to leverage system IPC (Inter-Process Communication) interfaces to escape the containment measures. Once escaped from the sandbox, the malicious code can elevate its privileges to SYSTEM level, effectively compromising the entire system security. This vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it undermines the core purpose of the sandbox, which is to isolate potentially dangerous code from affecting the underlying system.

Overview

The vulnerability exists in the Sandbox component of Avast Antivirus, a security feature designed to run suspicious programs in an isolated environment to prevent them from harming the system. In versions prior to 20.4, the sandbox implementation contains a flaw in how it handles system IPC interfaces. A malicious actor or program already running within the sandbox can exploit these improperly secured IPC channels to break out of the containment. Once free from the sandbox restrictions, the code can escalate its privileges to SYSTEM level, giving it complete control over the affected system. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it defeats the primary security purpose of the sandbox feature and could allow malware to gain the highest level of access to the system despite being initially contained.

Remediation

To address this vulnerability, users should:

  1. Update Avast Antivirus to version 20.4 or later immediately
  2. Enable automatic updates for security software to ensure timely protection against known vulnerabilities
  3. Run a full system scan after updating to check for any potential compromises
  4. Monitor system for unusual activities that might indicate a prior exploitation
  5. Consider implementing additional security layers such as network monitoring and endpoint protection if managing enterprise environments

References

  1. Vulnerability disclosure details: https://github.com/the-deniss/Vulnerability-Disclosures/tree/main/CVE-2021-AVST3%20%26%20CVE-2021-AVST4%20%26%20CVE-2021-AVST5
  2. Vendor advisory and acknowledgment: https://www.avast.com/hacker-hall-of-fame/en/researcher-david-eade-reports-antitrack-bug-to-avast-0
  3. CVE details: CVE-2021-45336
  4. Affected versions: Avast Antivirus prior to version 20.4

Industry ExposureMost to least
This section illustrates the prevalence of a specific Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) across various industries based on customer reports. The ranking displays industries from the most to least affected by this particular vulnerability, offering valuable insight into where this CVE has been most frequently observed. This information can help organizations within these sectors prioritize their security efforts, understand their relative risk exposure compared to their peers, and focus remediation strategies where they are most needed. By understanding the industry-specific impact, organizations can make more informed decisions regarding patching, resource allocation, and overall risk management related to this CVE.

  1. Accommodation & Food Services
    Accommodation & Food Services
  2. Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
    Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
  3. Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
    Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
  4. Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
    Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
  5. Construction
    Construction
  6. Educational Services
    Educational Services
  7. Finance and Insurance
    Finance and Insurance
  8. Health Care & Social Assistance
    Health Care & Social Assistance
  9. Information
    Information
  10. Management of Companies & Enterprises
    Management of Companies & Enterprises
  11. Manufacturing
    Manufacturing
  12. Mining
    Mining
  13. Other Services (except Public Administration)
    Other Services (except Public Administration)
  14. Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
    Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
  15. Public Administration
    Public Administration
  16. Real Estate Rental & Leasing
    Real Estate Rental & Leasing
  17. Retail Trade
    Retail Trade
  18. Transportation & Warehousing
    Transportation & Warehousing
  19. Utilities
    Utilities
  20. Wholesale Trade
    Wholesale Trade

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Armis Vulnerability Intelligence Database