CVE-2008-5535

Norman Antivirus 5.80.02, when Internet Explorer 6 or 7 is used, allows remote attackers to bypass detection of malware in an HTML document by placing an MZ…

published December 12, 2008

CVSS
—
EPSS
3%
Percentile
87.0
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A simple file extension trick could allow malware to slip through Norman Antivirus undetected when using Internet Explorer! Imagine a sneaky imposter walking right through security by wearing a disguise. 🚪👀 Think of it like a delivery driver who hands over a box that says 'Happy Birthday' instead of 'Toxic Waste'—the package looks harmless, but it contains something dangerous inside. This vulnerability lets malicious documents masquerade as innocent files, making it harder for defenses to catch them. If an attacker takes advantage of this vulnerability, they could deliver malware disguised as benign documents, potentially compromising your system without you ever knowing. The consequences could be absolutely devastating, with sensitive data at risk and defenses rendered ineffective!

Put simply

Think of it like a delivery driver who hands over a box that says 'Happy Birthday' instead of 'Toxic Waste'—the package looks harmless, but it contains something dangerous inside. This vulnerability lets malicious documents masquerade as innocent files, making it harder for defenses to catch them. CVE-2008-5535 allows attackers to bypass malware detection in Norman Antivirus by manipulating the file header and altering the filename to have no extensions or misleading extensions like .txt or .jpg. This trickery enables harmful content to be treated as safe.

What to do

If an attacker takes advantage of this vulnerability, they could deliver malware disguised as benign documents, potentially compromising your system without you ever knowing. The consequences could be absolutely devastating, with sensitive data at risk and defenses rendered ineffective! To protect yourself, consider switching from Internet Explorer 6 or 7 to a more modern browser with robust security features. Additionally, ensure your antivirus software is up-to-date and review your security configurations regularly to make sure they are robust against such tricks. You've got this! By taking these steps, you'll be fortifying your defenses and keeping those sneaky threats at bay! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.02951 · 87.0th percentile
Published
2008-12-12T18:13Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 12 DEC 18:13Z
    Norman Antivirus 5.80.02, when Internet Explorer 6 or 7 is used, allows remote attackers to bypass detection of malware in an HTML document by placing an MZ…
    cvelistv5