Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

SecurityWeekSecurityWeek

Endpoint Security

Avast Patches Vulnerability in SafeZone Tool

A vulnerability in Avast’s SafeZone tool allowed attackers to read any file on the system by getting the victim to click on a link, Google researcher Tavis Ormandy revealed on Thursday.

A vulnerability in Avast’s SafeZone tool allowed attackers to read any file on the system by getting the victim to click on a link, Google researcher Tavis Ormandy revealed on Thursday.

SafeZone, also known as Avastium, is a Chromium fork designed to protect Avast users’ data when they shop or bank online. The tool is included in Avast’s Premier, Internet Security and Pro Antivirus products.

Ormandy discovered in mid-December that unlike Chromium, which only allows WebSafe URLs on the command line, SafeZone allowed any URL without restriction. By removing this security check, the Avast tool permitted attackers to gain additional privileges and conduct various actions on the system.

If an attacker could convince a victim to visit a malicious URL, they could launch Avastium and gain complete control of the application. The Google expert pointed out that an attack could have worked even if the victim had never used Avastium.

“[The vulnerability] allows an attacker to read any file on the filesystem by clicking a link. You don’t even have to know the name or path of the file, because you can also retrieve directory listings using this attack. Additionally, you can send arbitrary *authenticated* HTTP requests, and read the responses. This allows an attacker to read cookies, email, interact with online banking and so on,” Ormandy said.

The flaw was reported to Avast on December 18 and the vendor released a temporary mitigation designed to break the exploit chain on December 28. A proper patch was delivered to customers on February 3 with the release of Avast 2016 build 2016.11.1.2253.

SafeZone is not the only Chromium-based antivirus browser found to be vulnerable by Ormandy. The expert reported earlier this week that Comodo’s Chromodo browser disabled same origin policy (SOP), effectively breaking web security, and, in January 2015, he criticized WhiteHat Security’s Aviator browser.

Other experts agree that many antivirus browsers are not as secure as they’re advertised.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Ormandy previously discovered serious vulnerabilities in the products of security companies MalwarebytesTrend MicroKaspersky Lab, AVG, and FireEye.

Written By

Eduard Kovacs (@EduardKovacs) is a managing editor at SecurityWeek. He worked as a high school IT teacher for two years before starting a career in journalism as Softpedia’s security news reporter. Eduard holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial informatics and a master’s degree in computer techniques applied in electrical engineering.

Click to comment

Trending

Daily Briefing Newsletter

Subscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing to stay informed on the latest threats, trends, and technology, along with insightful columns from industry experts.

Understand how to go beyond effectively communicating new security strategies and recommendations.

Register

Join us for an in depth exploration of the critical nature of software and vendor supply chain security issues with a focus on understanding how attacks against identity infrastructure come with major cascading effects.

Register

Expert Insights

Related Content

Endpoint Security

Today, on January 10, 2023, Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) and Windows 8.1 have reached their end of support dates.

Application Security

Virtualization technology giant VMware on Tuesday shipped urgent updates to fix a trio of security problems in multiple software products, including a virtual machine...

Endpoint Security

Gigabyte has announced BIOS updates that remove a recently identified backdoor feature in hundreds of its motherboards.

Endpoint Security

Several major companies have published advisories in response to the Downfall vulnerability affecting Intel CPUs.

Application Security

Microsoft on Tuesday pushed a major Windows update to address a security feature bypass already exploited in global ransomware attacks.The operating system update, released...

CISO Strategy

Varied viewpoints as related security concepts take on similar traits create substantial confusion among security teams trying to evaluate and purchase security technologies.

Endpoint Security

The Zero Day Dilemma

Endpoint Security

When establishing visibility and security controls across endpoints, security professionals need to understand that each endpoint bears some or all responsibility for its own...