📄 Description (English)
Avast SecureLine 5.5.522.0 contains an unquoted service path vulnerability that allows local users to potentially execute code with elevated system privileges. Attackers can exploit the unquoted path in the service configuration to inject malicious code that would execute with LocalSystem account permissions during service startup.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
Avast SecureLine VPN 5.5.522.0 contains a critical privilege escalation vulnerability through an unquoted service path, allowing local attackers to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. This vulnerability affects enterprise deployments across Saudi organizations using this VPN solution for secure remote access. Immediate patching is essential as the attack requires only local access and can lead to complete system compromise.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 27, 2026 12:52
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi banking institutions, government agencies, and energy sector organizations that deploy Avast SecureLine for employee VPN access. SAMA-regulated financial institutions are particularly vulnerable as VPN solutions are critical infrastructure for secure remote banking operations. Government entities under NCA oversight and ARAMCO's IT infrastructure could face system compromise if local attackers gain access to VPN client machines. Telecom operators (STC, Mobily) using this solution for secure communications are also at risk. The vulnerability enables privilege escalation from standard user to SYSTEM level, potentially compromising entire network segments.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services (SAMA-regulated)
Government and Public Administration (NCA oversight)
Energy and Oil & Gas (ARAMCO, national infrastructure)
Telecommunications (STC, Mobily, Zain)
Healthcare (MOH, private hospitals)
Defense and Security
Large Enterprise IT Infrastructure
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all systems running Avast SecureLine 5.5.522.0 across your organization using asset management tools
2. Restrict local user access to systems running vulnerable VPN client versions
3. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized executable execution
4. Monitor for suspicious service startup activities and privilege escalation attempts
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Upgrade Avast SecureLine to version 5.5.523.0 or later immediately
2. Deploy patches through centralized endpoint management systems (SCCM, Intune)
3. Prioritize patching for systems with administrative users and sensitive data access
4. Verify patch installation and service restart completion
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Disable Avast SecureLine service if not actively required
2. Implement file integrity monitoring on service executable paths
3. Use AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control to restrict service execution
4. Enable audit logging for service startup and privilege escalation events
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor Windows Event Viewer for Service Control Manager events (Event ID 7045) with unquoted paths
2. Alert on any process execution from %TEMP% or %APPDATA% with SYSTEM privileges
3. Track registry modifications to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\avast entries
4. Monitor for DLL injection attempts targeting Avast service processes
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل Avast SecureLine 5.5.522.0 عبر منظمتك باستخدام أدوات إدارة الأصول
2. تقييد وصول المستخدمين المحليين إلى الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل إصدارات عميل VPN الضعيفة
3. تنفيذ قائمة بيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع تنفيذ الملفات التنفيذية غير المصرح بها
4. مراقبة أنشطة بدء الخدمة المريبة ومحاولات تصعيد الامتيازات
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. ترقية Avast SecureLine إلى الإصدار 5.5.523.0 أو أحدث على الفور
2. نشر التصحيحات من خلال أنظمة إدارة نقاط النهاية المركزية
3. إعطاء الأولوية لتصحيح الأنظمة التي تحتوي على مستخدمين إداريين والوصول إلى البيانات الحساسة
4. التحقق من تثبيت التصحيح وإعادة تشغيل الخدمة
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكنًا):
1. تعطيل خدمة Avast SecureLine إذا لم تكن مطلوبة بنشاط
2. تنفيذ مراقبة سلامة الملفات على مسارات الملفات التنفيذية للخدمة
3. استخدام AppLocker أو Windows Defender Application Control لتقييد تنفيذ الخدمة
4. تفعيل تسجيل التدقيق لأحداث بدء الخدمة وأحداث تصعيد الامتيازات
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.5.2.1 - User access management and privilege management
A.5.2.3 - Management of privileged access rights
A.5.3.1 - Password management systems
A.8.1.1 - User endpoint devices
A.8.2.1 - Privileged access rights
A.8.2.3 - Information access restriction
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.AM-2 - Software platforms and applications are inventoried
PR.AC-1 - Identities and credentials are issued and managed
PR.AC-4 - Access rights are managed
PR.PT-3 - Configuration change control processes are in place
DE.CM-1 - The network is monitored for unauthorized connections
DE.CM-3 - Personnel activity is monitored
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1.1 - Policies for information security
A.6.1.1 - Information security roles and responsibilities
A.6.2.1 - Prior to granting access to information and information processing facilities
A.8.1.1 - User endpoint devices
A.8.2.1 - User access provisioning
A.8.2.3 - Management of privileged access rights
A.12.4.1 - Event logging
A.12.4.3 - Administrator and operator logs
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
Requirement 2.2.4 - Configure system security parameters to prevent misuse
Requirement 6.2 - Ensure security patches are installed
Requirement 8.1.4 - Remove/disable inactive user accounts
Requirement 10.2.1 - Implement automated audit trails for all system components