Malware detection, using NetBackup Malware Scanner, fails with error "Failed to update the NetBackup Malware Scanner tool"

Problem

The NetBackup malware scanner needs an important software update for continued operation. VERITAS provides the NetBackup Malware Scanner installer package to customers, available as a download on the VERITAS download center website.

The latest version of the NetBackup Malware scanner filename is NBAntiMalwareClient_2.4a.zip. This software update ensures uninterrupted service and access to the latest signature updates.

Error Message

NetBackup Malware scans users may see the following error in the WebUI on their first scan attempt. "NBCS: Failed to run a scan"

On subsequent attempts "NBCS: Failed to update the NetBackup Malware Scanner tool"

Cause

The malware scanner tool fails to update the virus definition files. The initialization of the scan process is no longer possible, leading to failure. The issue can also be seen in the process log for nbmalwarescanner.

Nbmalwarescanner log snip

Feb 16 01:47:17 +1100 (debug: avira_scan pid [815823]) Avira update try count <1>
Feb 16 01:47:17 +1100 (debug: subprocess pid [815823]) call() -> (0xff00 / st 255 + sig 0, out: '', err: Error: No valid license was fo...)
Feb 16 01:47:17 +1100 (debug: avira_scan pid [815823]) Update command return code : 65280
Feb 16 01:47:17 +1100 (debug: avira_scan pid [815823]) Update command stdout details:
Feb 16 01:47:17 +1100 (debug: avira_scan pid [815823]) Update command stderr details : Error: No valid license was found

Solution

Download the latest version of NetBackup Malware Scanner version 2.4a from the VERITAS download center.

The scanner version is independent of the NetBackup server version and always recommend using the latest available version. The zip package contains the malware scanner binaries for RHEL, SUSE, and Windows. An additional software update may be necessary as we make transformative changes to scan host communications.

Installation

Unzip and copy the appropriate OS package to a temp folder on the scan host. Ensure permissions on file/folder are adequate.

Example:

chmod -R 755 <folder_name>

There is no need to uninstall the existing version of the NetBackup Malware scanner. The install script will automatically detect an existing version of the scanner and will update the deployment.

Linux command to install/update:

./setup.sh

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. The screenshot below is an example of applying the update to a Windows malware scan host.