SUMMARY

The Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition HTML client help function uses HTML help, the Windows help interface, to provide support to the client user. A non-privileged client user can manipulate the help function to access files on the system with local SYSTEM privileges.

Risk Impact
Medium (client only)

AFFECTED PRODUCTS

ADDITIONAL PRODUCT INFORMATION

Non-Affected Products

ISSUES

Details
iDefense Labs notified Symantec of an issue within the functionality of the Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition HTML help interface that allows an authorized, but non-privileged user to gain privileged access to files and functionality on the local system.

The Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition client help function uses HTML help, the Windows help interface, to provide support to the client user. This interface was made to provide the user with a common interface that the user understands, is familiar with, and is able to implement quickly and easily. When an authorized user accesses the GUI on the Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition client, the user can request help using the GUI toolbar.

In the vulnerable product versions, the HTML help functionality assumes permissions from the Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition privileged access, rather than retaining the more restrictive user privileges assigned to a non-privileged logged-in user. By manipulating the GUI interface the non-privileged local user gains the ability to browse all system files or execute local system applications and programs with local SYSTEM privilege.

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) initiative has assigned CVE Candidate CAN-2005-2017 to this issue.

This issue is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for security problems.

MITIGATION

Symantec Response
Symantec engineers 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. Symantec strongly recommends users update to the latest MR available for Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.0 and Symantec Client Security 2.0 or to the latest product version to protect against this issue. MR 4 is available to address this threat in the Japanese and Korean language versions of Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.0 and Symantec Client Security 2.0.

Upgrade Information
Maintenance Releases and product upgrades are available through the Platinum Support Web Site for Platinum customers or through the FileConnect -Electronic Software Distribution web site for licensed users.

There are mitigating circumstances that greatly reduce the risk of intentional or inadvertent use of this issue in affected Symantec products.

• The user must have a user account on the targeted system and be logged on interactively to exploit this weakness.
• This weakness cannot be exploited remotely.
• Local System privileges can only be gained on the client system, which normally limits the impact to the logged on system.
• Access to domain controllers / administrator systems would normally be restricted to trusted Administrators only with restricted access to the physical system.

Symantec is not aware of any adverse customer impact from this issue.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Symantec thanks iDEFENSE Labs, for notification of this issue and coordinating disclosure as it was resolved