CVE-2024-13990
CVE-2024-13990 is a critical-severity vulnerability with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.3. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-295.
Key facts
- Severity: Critical (CVSS 4.0 base score 9.3)
- EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (43rd percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2025-30273
- Weakness: CWE-295
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
MicroWorld eScan AV's update mechanism failed to ensure authenticity and integrity of updates: update packages were delivered and accepted without robust cryptographic verification. As a result, an on-path attacker could perform a man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack and substitute malicious update payloads for legitimate ones. The eScan AV client accepted these substituted packages and executed or loaded their components (including sideloaded DLLs and Java/installer payloads), enabling remote code execution on affected systems. MicroWorld eScan confirmed remediation of the update mechanism on 2023-07-31 but versioning details are unavailable. NOTE: MicroWorld eScan disputes the characterization in third-party reports, stating the issue relates to 2018–2019 and that controls were implemented then.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2024-13990?
- MicroWorld eScan AV's update mechanism failed to ensure authenticity and integrity of updates: update packages were delivered and accepted without robust cryptographic verification. As a result, an on-path attacker could perform a man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack and substitute malicious update payloads for legitimate ones. The eScan AV client accepted these substituted packages and executed or loaded their components (including sideloaded DLLs and Java/installer payloads), enabling remote code execution on affected systems. MicroWorld eScan confirmed remediation of the update mechanism on 2023-07-31 but versioning details are unavailable. NOTE: MicroWorld eScan disputes the characterization in third-party reports, stating the issue relates to 2018–2019 and that controls were implemented then.
- How severe is CVE-2024-13990?
- CVE-2024-13990 has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.
- Is CVE-2024-13990 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (43rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- How do I fix CVE-2024-13990?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- Does CVE-2024-13990 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
- Yes. CVE-2024-13990 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2025-30273.
- When was CVE-2024-13990 published?
- CVE-2024-13990 was published on 2025-09-19 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- https://arstechnica.com/security/2024/04/hackers-infect-users-of-antivirus-service-that-delivered-updates-over-http/
- https://blog.avast.com/leading-the-charge-against-guptiminer
- https://securityaffairs.com/162228/breaking-news/escan-antivirus-mitm-attack.html
- https://thehackernews.com/2024/04/escan-antivirus-update-mechanism.html
- https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-hijack-antivirus-updates-to-drop-guptiminer-malware/
- https://www.escanav.com/en/about-us/eScan-update-advisory.asp
- https://www.gendigital.com/blog/insights/research/guptiminer-hijacking-antivirus-updates-for-distributing-backdoors-and-casual-mining
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/microworld-escan-av-insecure-update-mechanism-allows-mitm-replacement-of-updates
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