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 55 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. Get paid for vulnerability research http://www.idefense.com/poi/teams/vcp.jsp Free tools, research and upcoming events http://labs.idefense.com 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.