Symantec AntiVirus 9 Corporate Edition Local Privilege Escalation
Vulnerability
iDEFENSE Security Advisory 08.29.05
www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?id=298&type=vulnerabilities
August 29, 2005
I. BACKGROUND
Symantec AntiVirus 9 Corporate Edition is an enterprise quality
Anti-Virus solution for the Windows platform.
More information can be found at the following location:
http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?ProductID=1
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II. DESCRIPTION
Local exploitation of a design error in the Symantec AntiVirus 9
Corporate Edition may allow a user to gain elevated privileges.
Exploitation can occur when a user chooses the right click "Scan for
viruses" option. The Symantec scan file interface allows the user to
launch a help window through the use of a toolbar icon. If the user
then right clicks the help window title bar they can choose the "Jump
to URL" menu option, which will then allow them to browse the local
file system and execute files as the SYSTEM user.
This vulnerability is a re-appearance of an old bug formerly found in
the Symantec 7.x series virus scan product.
http://cert.uni-stuttgart.de/archive/bugtraq/2002/10/msg00357.html
http://cert.uni-stuttgart.de/archive/bugtraq/2002/10/msg00379.html
III. ANALYSIS
Successful exploitation allows a local attacker to execute arbitrary
commands as the System Administrator user.
IV. DETECTION
iDEFENSE has confirmed this vulnerability exists in version 9.0.1.1000
of Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition for Windows with all current
updates applied. This is a re-appearance of an old bug that was
reportedly fixed in versions 7.5.1 Build 62 and later, and version
7.6.1 Build 35a.
V. WORKAROUND
iDEFENSE is currently unaware of any workaround for this issue.
VI. VENDOR RESPONSE
"Symantec engineers have verified this issue and corrected it in
Maintenance Release (MR) 3 and all subsequent MRs and upgrades for
Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition and Symantec Client Security."
A vendor advisory for this issue is available at the following URL:
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/security/Content/2005.08.24.html
VII. CVE INFORMATION
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the
name CAN-2005-2017 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in
the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for
security problems.
VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE
06/15/2005 Initial vendor notification
06/15/2005 Initial vendor response
08/29/2005 Coordinated public disclosure
IX. CREDIT
The discoverer of this vulnerability wishes to remain anonymous.
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X. LEGAL NOTICES
Copyright (c) 2005 iDEFENSE, Inc.
Permission is granted for the redistribution of this alert
electronically. It may not be edited in any way without the express
written consent of iDEFENSE. If you wish to reprint the whole or any
part of this alert in any other medium other than electronically, please
email customerservice@idefense.com for permission.
Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate
at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use
of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition.
There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the
author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect,
or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on,
this information.
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