Quick Heal Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

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ShineShadow Security Report 13102009-11

TITLE

Quick Heal Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

BACKGROUND

Quick Heal Technologies is leading provider of AntiVirus and Internet Security tools and is leader in Anti-Virus 
Technology in India. A privately held company, Quick Heal Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (formerly known as Cat Computer 
Services (P) Ltd.) was founded in 1993 and has been actively involved in Research and Development of anti-virus 
software since then. Quick Heal an award-winning anti-virus product is installed in corporate, small business and 
consumers' homes, protecting their PCs from viruses and other malicious threats.

Source: http://www.quickheal.co.in

VULNERABLE PRODUCTS

Quick Heal Antivirus Plus 2009 for Desktop (v.10.00 SP1)
Quick Heal Total Security 2009 (v.10.00 SP1)

DETAILS

Quick Heal installs the own program files with insecure permissions (Everyone: Full Control). Local attacker 
(unprivileged user) can replace some files (for example, executable files of Quick Heal services) by malicious file and 
execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. This is local privilege escalation vulnerability.

For example, in Quick Heal Antivirus Plus 2009 the following attack scenario could be used:
1. An attacker (unprivileged user) replaces one of the Quick Heal Antivirus program files by malicious executable file. 
For example, the replacing file could be - %Program Files%\Quick Heal\Quick Heal AntiVirus Plus\quhlpsvc.exe (Quick 
Update Service).
2. Restart the system.
After restart attackers malicious file will be executed with SYSTEM privileges.

For other vulnerable Quick Heal products similar attack scenario could be used.

EXPLOITATION

This is local privilege escalation vulnerability. An attacker must have valid logon credentials to a system where 
vulnerable software is installed.

WORKAROUND 

No workarounds

DISCLOSURE TIMELINE

31/08/2009 Initial vendor notification. Secure contacts requested.
01/09/2009 Vendor response 
03/09/2009 Vulnerability details sent. Confirmation requested.
04/09/2009 Vendor requested additional information
05/09/2009 Additional information sent
07/09/2009 Vendor accepted vulnerability for analyzing
23/09/2009 Update status query sent
23/09/2009 Vendor response that vulnerability analyze not yet completed
24/09/2009 Planned disclosure date was sent to vendor. Coordinated disclosure date requested. – No reply.
13/10/2009 Advisory released

CREDITS

Maxim A. Kulakov (ShineShadow) 
ss_contacts[at]hotmail.com