CVE-2012-1420
CVE-2012-1420 is a CWE-264 vulnerability in authentium command antivirus. EPSS puts its 30-day exploitation probability at 97.1% (100th percentile). O3 Security detects and blocks CVE-2012-1420 exploitation at runtime via eBPF exploit-chain detection and L7 egress monitoring, even on unpatched systems.
The TAR file parser in Quick Heal (aka Cat QuickHeal) 11.00, Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, F-Prot Antivirus 4.6.2.117, Fortinet Antivirus 4.2.254.0, K7 AntiVirus 9.77.3565, Kaspersky…
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
Description
The TAR file parser in Quick Heal (aka Cat QuickHeal) 11.00, Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, F-Prot Antivirus 4.6.2.117, Fortinet Antivirus 4.2.254.0, K7 AntiVirus 9.77.3565, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0.0.125, Antimalware Engine 1.1.6402.0 in Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0, NOD32 Antivirus 5795, Norman Antivirus 6.06.12, Panda Antivirus 10.0.2.7, and Rising Antivirus 22.83.00.03 allows remote attackers to bypass malware detection via a POSIX TAR file with an initial \7fELF character sequence. NOTE: this may later be SPLIT into multiple CVEs if additional information is published showing that the error occurred independently in different TAR parser implementations.
Affected Products
command antivirusauthentiumquick healcatnod32 antivirusesetf-prot antivirusf-protfortinet antivirusfortinetantivirusk7computingDetection & mitigation playbook
Vendor / applianceDetect
Inventory every authentium command antivirus deployment and check each version against the affected-products list above. Because the exploit targets the running system rather than your application code, also watch for exploitation at the network and runtime layer — O3 flags the exploit behaviour from runtime telemetry and egress traffic even before a vulnerable build is confirmed.
Remediation status
No patch has shipped for CVE-2012-1420 yet — track the authentium command antivirus advisory for a fixed release and apply the workarounds below in the meantime.
Mitigate without a patch
Cut exposure now: restrict the management/admin interface to trusted networks, segment the device, and apply the vendor's recommended configuration mitigations and any WAF/IPS signature. O3's runtime protection blocks the exploit chain at execution, holding the line on unpatched or end-of-life systems until you can patch.
How O3 protects you
O3 detects and blocks CVE-2012-1420 exploitation at runtime: eBPF exploit-chain detection, plus L7 egress monitoring that catches the post-exploitation callback and severs the attacker's outbound channel.
Tailored to CVE-2012-1420. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2012-1420 being exploited in your environment?
O3's eBPF runtime sensors and L7 egress monitoring detect and block the CVE-2012-1420 exploit chain at execution — protecting unpatched and end-of-life systems until the vendor patch is applied.