Symantec Antivirus Scan Engine: Web Service Administrative Interface Buffer Overflow

Revision History
10/5/2005 – updated Symantec Scan Engine-based product names to reflect current branding.

Risk Impact
HIGH

Remote Access	Yes
Local Access	No
Authentication Required	No
Exploit publicly available	No

Overview
The remote exploitation of a buffer overflow vulnerability in the web-based Administrative Interface of the Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine product could potentially allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on a targeted system.

Affected Product(s)

Product	Version	Build	Solution
Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine	4.0	All	SAVSE 4.3.12
Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine	4.3	All	SAVSE 4.3.12
Symantec AntiVirus for Microsoft ISA Server 2000	4.0	All	SAVSE 4.3.12
Symantec AntiVirus for Microsoft ISA Server 2000	4.3	All	SAVSE 4.3.12
Symantec AntiVirus for Netapp Filer	4.0	All	SAVSE 4.3.12
Symantec AntiVirus for Messaging	4.3	All	SAVSE 4.3.12
Symantec AntiVirus for Netapp NetCache	4.0	All	SAVSE 4.3.12
Symantec AntiVirus for Network Attached Storage	4.3	All	SAVSE 4.3.12
Symantec AntiVirus for Bluecoat	4.0	All	SAVSE 4.3.12
Symantec AntiVirus for Caching	4.3	All	SAVSE 4.3.12
Symantec AntiVirus for Microsoft SharePoint	4.3	All	SAVSE 4.3.12
Symantec AntiVirus for Clearswift	4.0	All	SAVSE 4.3.12
Symantec AntiVirus for Clearswift	4.3	All	SAVSE 4.3.12

Non-Affected Product(s)

Product	Version	Build
Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine	4.1	All

Details
iDEFENSE Labs notified Symantec of a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine that could potentially allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. The Symantec Scan Engine is a TCP/IP server and programming interface that enables third parties to incorporate support for Symantec content scanning technologies into their proprietary applications. The vulnerability exists in the Administrative interface to the Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user input in HTTP requests passed to the Scan Engine Web Service. If a remote attacker were able to access an exposed administrative port, they could supply a maliciously crafted HTTP request that could potentially result in the execution of arbitrary code and unauthorized privileged access to the targeted system.

Symantec Response
Symantec Engineers have verified this issue and made security updates available for the Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine. Symantec strongly recommends all customers immediately apply the latest updates for their supported product versions to protect against these types of threats. Symantec is unaware of any adverse customer impact from this issue

Mitigations
Default installation instructions state that, for security reasons, customers should access the administrative interface using a switch or via a secure segment of the network. The Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine Administration default port, 8004/tcp, should be locked down for trusted internal access only. This port can be changed, as it might conflict with existing applications in the environment. But whatever port is used for the user-interface, it should never be visible external to the network which greatly reduces opportunities for unauthorized access.

A customer may choose to completely disable the Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine’s user-interface once it has been satisfactorily configured.

CVE
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) initiative has assigned CVE Candidate CVE-2005-2758 to this issue.
This issue is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for security problems.

Credit:
Symantec would like to thank iDEFENSE labs, for reporting this issue and for providing coordination while Symantec resolved the issues.

Symantec takes the security and proper functionality of its products very seriously. As founding members of the Organization for Internet Safety (OISafety), Symantec follows the principles of responsible disclosure. Symantec also subscribes to the vulnerability guidelines outlined by the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). Please contact secure@symantec.com if you feel you have discovered a potential or actual security issue with a Symantec product. A Symantec Product Security team member will contact you regarding your submission.

Symantec has developed a Product Vulnerability Handling Process document outlining the process we follow in addressing suspected vulnerabilities in our products. We support responsible disclosure of all vulnerability information in a timely manner to protect Symantec customers and the security of the Internet as a result of vulnerability. This document is available from the location provided below.

Symantec strongly recommends using encrypted email for reporting vulnerability information to secure@symantec.com. The Symantec Product Security PGP key can be obtained from the location provided below.

Symantec Vulnerability Response Policy

Symantec Product Vulnerability Management PGP Key

Copyright (c) 2008 by Symantec Corp.
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Disclaimer
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