CVE-2012-1432: Multiple antivirus EXE parsers allow malware detection bypass

Automated analysis

Generated by VULONE's analysis model from the NVD record, CISA KEV and EPSS data on 18 September 2026. Confidence: medium.

medium priorityCVSS 2.0 is 4.3 (MEDIUM) and the flaw only bypasses detection, but the very high EPSS score and multiple affected security products raise defensive concern.

What it is

The EXE file parser in Emsisoft Anti-Malware, eSafe, Ikarus Virus Utilities T3 Command Line Scanner, and Panda Antivirus can be tricked into skipping malware detection when an EXE file contains the byte sequence \57\69\6E\5A\69\70 at a specific location. This lets a malicious executable evade scanning by these products, undermining the core protection they provide. The record notes it may later be split into separate CVEs if the flaw is confirmed independently in each parser.

Impact

An attacker can deliver an EXE that these antivirus products fail to flag as malicious, allowing malware to run on a protected host. The direct gain is evasion of detection, not code execution or privilege escalation by itself.

Attack surface

The vector is network-reachable (AV:N) with medium attack complexity and no authentication required (Au:N). The attacker supplies a crafted EXE file that is parsed by the affected antivirus product; no user interaction is described beyond the file being scanned.

Exploitation

CISA KEV does not list this CVE, but EPSS is very high (0.93402, 99.834th percentile), indicating a strong likelihood of exploitation activity. The references are conference and mailing-list posts with no exploit tags, so no confirmed public exploit is documented in this record.

What to do

• Apply vendor updates for Emsisoft Anti-Malware, eSafe, Ikarus Virus Utilities T3 Command Line Scanner, and Panda Antivirus; if no fix exists, treat the affected parser as unreliable.
• Do not rely on the affected EXE parser as the sole malware detection layer; add independent endpoint detection and file reputation checks.
• Block or quarantine untrusted EXE files at email and web gateways before they reach hosts protected only by these products.
• Monitor vendor advisories for the possible CVE split and track each affected product separately.

Detection

• Hunt for EXE files containing the byte sequence \57\69\6E\5A\69\70 at the parser-relevant location and correlate with files that the affected antivirus did not flag.
• Compare antivirus verdicts against a second scanning engine or sandbox for EXE files entering the environment.
• Alert on execution of EXE files that passed the affected antivirus but are flagged by EDR or reputation services.

This assessment is produced automatically and is not human-reviewed. Verify against the vendor advisory before acting on it.