Symantec pcAnywhere – Insecure File Permissions Privilege Escalation
======= Summary ======= Name: Symantec pcAnywhere insecure file permissions local privilege escalation Release Date: 30 April 2012 Reference: NGS00117 Discoverer: Edward Torkington <edward.torkington@ngssecure.com> Vendor: Symantec Vendor Reference: Systems Affected: Symantec pcAnywhere 12.5.x IT Management Suite 7.0 pcAnywhere Solution 12.5.x IT Management Suite 7.1 pcAnywhere Solution 12.6.x Risk: High Status: Fixed ======== TimeLine ======== Discovered: 23 August 2011 Released: 14 September 2011 Approved: 14 September 2011 Reported: 23 August 2011 Fixed: 24 January 2012 Published: 30 April 2012 =========== Description =========== Inadequate file permissions on application binaries could result on local privilege escalation ================= Technical Details ================= A number of key files in the C:\Program Files\Symantec\pcAnywhere\ folder are writable by any user: C:\Program Files\Symantec\pcAnywhere\WinAw32.exe Everyone:(OI)(CI)F NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)F C:\Program Files\Symantec\pcAnywhere\awrem32.exe Everyone:(OI)(CI)F NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)F C:\Program Files\Symantec\pcAnywhere\awhost32.exe Everyone:(OI)(CI)F NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)F It is trivial to replace these .exe (including the main pcanywhere exe, winaw32.exe with a malicious binary). When launched by the admin, privilege escalation would be gained. The awhost32.exe is set as a service under some scenarios (SYSTEM) and allows a user to privilege escalate by overwriting this binary. =============== Fix Information =============== An updated version of the software has been released to address these vulnerabilities: http://www.symantec.com/security_response/securityupdates/detail.jsp?fid=security _advisory&pvid=security_advisory&year=2012&suid=20120124_00 |