CVE-2008-5537

PC Tools AntiVirus 4.4.2.0, 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
86.8
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A crafty MZ header trick could leave your PC Tools AntiVirus blind to malware! This vulnerability lets attackers serve malicious HTML documents that evade detection with a simple filename swap. 🔍 Think of it like a sneaky chef slipping a rotten apple into a fruit basket — on the outside, everything looks fine, but it's all about what's hiding in the details. Here, an attacker disguises a dangerous file as something harmless, like a .txt or .jpg. If exploited, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass malware detection in your antivirus software entirely. Imagine receiving an email attachment that appears innocent, while hiding malicious code that could compromise your system. The consequences could be devastating, leading to data breaches or system infections.

Put simply

Think of it like a sneaky chef slipping a rotten apple into a fruit basket — on the outside, everything looks fine, but it's all about what's hiding in the details. Here, an attacker disguises a dangerous file as something harmless, like a .txt or .jpg. This vulnerability in PC Tools AntiVirus 4.4.2.0 leverages a crafted MZ header in HTML documents, allowing attackers to present malware as innocuous files by manipulating the file extension.

What to do

If exploited, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass malware detection in your antivirus software entirely. Imagine receiving an email attachment that appears innocent, while hiding malicious code that could compromise your system. The consequences could be devastating, leading to data breaches or system infections. To protect yourself, ensure your antivirus software is updated to the latest version, particularly if you're using PC Tools. Additionally, consider using modern browsers instead of Internet Explorer 6 or 7 to enhance your security. Stay vigilant and avoid opening files from unknown sources! You've got this! Stay proactive and secure your systems against these crafty attacks! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.02902 · 86.8th percentile
Published
2008-12-12T18:13Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 12 DEC 18:13Z
    PC Tools AntiVirus 4.4.2.0, 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