CVE-2018-6668

Step 1: Payload Preparation: The attacker crafts a malicious DLL containing the desired payload (e.g., a reverse shell, malware installation).

Step 2: Payload Delivery: The attacker delivers the malicious DLL to the target system. This could be achieved through various means, such as social engineering, phishing, or exploiting other vulnerabilities.

Step 3: Interpreter Invocation: The attacker uses an interpreter, such as PowerShell, to load and execute the malicious DLL. The specific command or script used will vary depending on the target system and the attacker's goals.

Step 4: Whitelist Bypass: The interpreter's execution context, or a flaw in the whitelist's implementation, allows the malicious DLL to bypass the security controls. The whitelist fails to properly identify and block the DLL.

Step 5: Code Execution: The malicious DLL is executed, allowing the attacker to gain control of the system or perform other malicious actions.

The vulnerability stems from a flaw in how McAfee Application Control/Change Control handles DLL execution. The product's whitelist mechanism, designed to restrict the execution of unauthorized code, can be bypassed. The root cause is likely an insufficient validation of the DLL's origin or a failure to correctly interpret the execution context when a DLL is called through an interpreter like PowerShell. This allows attackers to load and execute malicious DLLs, effectively bypassing the intended security controls. The flaw is not a specific buffer overflow or race condition, but rather a logical flaw in the whitelist implementation.