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CVE Record

CVE-2018-6661: TS102801 True Key DLL Side-Loading vulnerability

DLL Side-Loading vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Client in McAfee True Key before 4.20.110 allows local users to gain privilege elevation via not verifying a particular DLL file signature.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2018-6661 is a local privilege escalation issue in McAfee True Key on Windows. A low-privileged local user could potentially gain higher privileges through DLL side-loading because a DLL signature was not verified. It is high impact, but requires local access, user interaction, and high attack complexity.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted endpoint hygiene priority, not an internet-wide emergency. Address exposed True Key installations during normal vulnerability remediation, with faster action for privileged-user workstations or shared systems.

Technical view

The CVSS 3.0 vector is AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. The source description says McAfee True Key before 4.20.110 on Microsoft Windows Client is affected by DLL side-loading due to missing signature verification on a specific DLL.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Windows endpoints running McAfee True Key, particularly versions before 4.20.110 per the CVE description. The bundled affected metadata is sparse, so teams should verify exact version status against McAfee TS102801.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation is local, requires low privileges and user interaction, and is rated high complexity. No public exploit status is established by the provided sources.

Researcher notes

Public technical detail in the bundle is limited. The key indicators are DLL side-loading, missing DLL signature verification, local attack vector, low privileges, user interaction, changed scope, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. No CWE is listed.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory Windows endpoints for McAfee True Key installations.
  • Check McAfee TS102801 for the vendor-confirmed fixed version and guidance.
  • Update True Key where vendor guidance indicates exposure.
  • Remove True Key from systems where it is no longer required.
  • Prioritize endpoints shared by users with elevated business access.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm installed True Key versions on Windows clients.
  • Compare discovered versions with McAfee TS102801 guidance.
  • Verify patch or removal completion through endpoint management records.
  • Check whether vulnerable systems remain in high-value user groups.
  • Document any version ambiguity for vendor follow-up.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2018-6661 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.5CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H0.86Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2018-6661Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
McAfeeTrue Key4.20.110Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.