Vulnerability Note VU#869993

Panda Security ActiveScan fails to properly validate downloaded software

Original Release date: 09 Feb 2010 | Last revised: 09 Feb 2010

Overview

Panda ActiveScan fails to properly validate downloaded software, which can allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.

Description

Panda ActiveScan is an online scanner that is reported to detect malware, vulnerabilities, and unknown threats. Panda ActiveScan, which is available as an ActiveX control for Internet Explorer browsers and as an NSAPI plug-in for other browsers, includes an installer component (as2stubie.dll) for downloading and installing the remaining components of the ActiveScan product (as2guiie.cab).

The Panda ActiveScan installer fails to validate the digital signature of downloaded components. The location of the components to download can also be specified by an attacker.

Impact

By convincing a victim to view an HTML document (web page, HTML email, or email attachment), an attacker could run arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application.

Solution

Apply an update
This vulnerability is addressed with as2stubie.dll version 1.3.3.0. This version of the stub installer verifies the digital signature of the downloaded components. This updated version can be obtained by revisiting the ActiveScan website and installing the updated components as prompted. This will replace the old, vulnerable installer component. The vulnerable ActiveX control is also disabled in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-008.


Disable the ActiveScan Installer ActiveX control in Internet Explorer

The ActiveScan Installer ActiveX control can be disabled in Internet Explorer by setting the kill bit for the following CLSID:

    {2D8ED06D-3C30-438B-96AE-4D110FDC1FB8}
More information about how to set the kill bit is available in Microsoft Support Document 240797. Alternatively, the following text can be saved as a .REG file and imported to set the kill bit for this control:
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{2D8ED06D-3C30-438B-96AE-4D110FDC1FB8}]
    "Compatibility Flags"=dword:00000400
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{2D8ED06D-3C30-438B-96AE-4D110FDC1FB8}]
    "Compatibility Flags"=dword:00000400
Disable ActiveX

Disabling ActiveX controls in the Internet Zone (or any zone used by an attacker) appears to prevent exploitation of this and other ActiveX vulnerabilities. Instructions for disabling ActiveX in the Internet Zone can be found in the "Securing Your Web Browser" document. 

Disable plug-ins

Disabling plug-ins by default can prevent exploitation of this and other plug-in vulnerabilities. This can be accomplished by configuring NoScript to Forbid other plugins for untrusted sites, as outlined in the Securing Your Web Browser document..

Systems Affected (Learn More)

VendorStatusDate NotifiedDate Updated
Panda Software Ltd.Affected03 Apr 200909 Feb 2010
If you are a vendor and your product is affected, let us know.

CVSS Metrics (Learn More)

Group Score Vector
Base N/A N/A
Temporal N/A N/A
Environmental N/A N/A

References

Credit

This vulnerability was reported by Will Dormann of the CERT/CC.

This document was written by Will Dormann.

Other Information

  • CVE IDs: CVE-2009-3735
  • Date Public: 09 Feb 2010
  • Date First Published: 09 Feb 2010
  • Date Last Updated: 09 Feb 2010
  • Severity Metric: 9.23
  • Document Revision: 16

Feedback

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.