bugtraq - NGS00117 Technical Advisory: Symantec pcAnywhere insecure file permissions local privilege escalation

lists.openwall.net		lists / announce owl-users owl-dev john-users john-dev passwdqc-users yescrypt popa3d-users / oss-security kernel-hardening musl sabotage tlsify passwords / crypt-dev xvendor / Bugtraq Full-Disclosure linux-kernel linux-netdev linux-ext4 linux-hardening linux-cve-announce PHC
Open Source and information security mailing list archives

Hash Suite for Android: free password hash cracker in your pocket

[<prev] [next>] [day] [month] [year] [list]

Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:24:13 +0000
From: "Research@...Secure" <research@...secure.com>
To: "bugtraq@...urityfocus.com" <bugtraq@...urityfocus.com>
Subject: NGS00117 Technical Advisory: Symantec pcAnywhere insecure file
 permissions local privilege escalation

=======
Summary
=======
Name: Symantec pcAnywhere insecure file permissions local privilege escalation
Release Date: 30 April 2012
Reference: NGS00117
Discoverer: Edward Torkington <edward.torkington@...secure.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


NGS Secure Research
http://www.ngssecure.com