McAfee VirusScan Access Protection Rules Anti-Virus Standard Protection must be set to prevent IRC communication.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-42562	DTAM151	SV-55290r3_rule		Medium

Description
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is the preferred communication method used by botnet herders and remote-access trojans to control botnets (a set of scripts or an independent program that connects to IRC). IRC allows an attacker to control infected machines that are sitting behind network address translation (NAT), and the bot can be configured to connect back to the command and control server listening on any port.

Description

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is the preferred communication method used by botnet herders and remote-access trojans to control botnets (a set of scripts or an independent program that connects to IRC). IRC allows an attacker to control infected machines that are sitting behind network address translation (NAT), and the bot can be configured to connect back to the command and control server listening on any port.

STIG	Date
McAfee VirusScan 8.8 Local Client STIG	2018-07-09

Details

Check Text ( C-49362r5_chk )
NOTE: If IRC Communication is enabled on a Classified network, in accordance with published Ports, Protocols, and Services Management (PPSM) guidelines, this requirement is not applicable. NOTE: Since there is no HIPS signature to provide this same protection, this check is applicable even if HIPS is enabled. Access the local VirusScan console by clicking Start->All Programs->McAfee->VirusScan Console. Under the Task column, select Access Protection, right-click, and select Properties. Under the Access Protection tab, locate the "Access protection rules:" label. In the "Categories" box, select "Anti-Virus Standard Protection". Ensure both "Prevent IRC communication" (Block and Report) options are selected. Criteria: If both "Prevent IRC communication" (Block and Report) options are selected, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-49362r5_chk )

NOTE: If IRC Communication is enabled on a Classified network, in accordance with published Ports, Protocols, and Services Management (PPSM) guidelines, this requirement is not applicable.

NOTE: Since there is no HIPS signature to provide this same protection, this check is applicable even if HIPS is enabled.

Access the local VirusScan console by clicking Start->All Programs->McAfee->VirusScan Console.
Under the Task column, select Access Protection, right-click, and select Properties.

Under the Access Protection tab, locate the "Access protection rules:" label. In the "Categories" box, select "Anti-Virus Standard Protection". Ensure both "Prevent IRC communication" (Block and Report) options are selected.

Criteria: If both "Prevent IRC communication" (Block and Report) options are selected, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-48144r2_fix)
Access the local VirusScan console by clicking Start->All Programs->McAfee->VirusScan Console. Under the Task column, select Access Protection, right-click, and select Properties. Under the Access Protection tab, locate the "Access protection rules:" label. In the "Categories" box, select "Anti-Virus Standard Protection". Select both "Prevent IRC communication" (Block and Report) options. Click OK to Save.

Fix Text (F-48144r2_fix)

Access the local VirusScan console by clicking Start->All Programs->McAfee->VirusScan Console.
Under the Task column, select Access Protection, right-click, and select Properties.

Under the Access Protection tab, locate the "Access protection rules:" label. In the "Categories" box, select "Anti-Virus Standard Protection". Select both "Prevent IRC communication" (Block and Report) options.

Click OK to Save.