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AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution
ESB-2006.0753 -- [Win]
Symantec Automated Support Assistant: Vulnerabilities in
Support Tool ActiveX Control
12 October 2006
===========================================================================
AusCERT Security Bulletin Summary
---------------------------------
Product: Symantec Automated Support Assistant
Symantec Norton AntiVirus
Symantec Norton Internet Security
Symantec Norton System Works
Publisher: Symantec
Operating System: Windows
Impact: Execute Arbitrary Code/Commands
Access Privileged Data
Access: Remote/Unauthenticated
Original Bulletin:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/security/Content/2006.10.05.html
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SYM06-019
October 5, 2006
Symantec Automated Support Assistant: Vulnerabilities in Support Tool
ActiveX Control
Revision History
None
Severity
Low (moderated by site restriction and user interaction requirements)
Remote Yes, with user interaction
Local No
Authentication Required site restricted, user interaction required
Exploit publicly available No
Overview
Vulnerabilities were reported in a Symantec-developed ActiveX control,
installed with some of Symantecs consumer products and as a part of
Symantecs technical support troubleshooting tools. Exploitation of
these issues could possibly lead to unauthorized information
disclosure or potentially allow arbitrary code execution in the
context of the users browser. However, successful exploitation
requires specific conditions.
Supported Product(s)
Product Version Solution(s)
Symantec Automated Support Assistant Fix Available
Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2005-2006 Fix Available
Symantec Norton Internet Security 2005-2006 Fix Available
Symantec Norton System Works 2005-2006 Fix Available
Note: Only the Symantec Consumer products indicated above shipped with
these components. However, the Automated Support Assistant is used by
support to detect problems on computer running any supported Symantec
consumer product to provide the user with information on solutions to
those problems. Therefore, this control may be installed on Symantec
customer systems running consumer products and versions, 2006 and
prior, other than those listed above.
Symantec Corporate and Enterprise products do not install or use these
components and are NOT affected by this issue. 2007 Consumer releases
are NOT affected by this issue.
Details
Symantec was alerted to a stack overflow and information disclosure
vulnerabilities that Next Generation Security Research (NGSS)
discovered in a Symantec-developed ActiveX control, installed as a
part of Symantecs Automated Support Assistant and with some of
Symantecs consumer products (indicated above). This ActiveX control
failed to properly validate external input. This failure could
potentially result in a browser crash or, possibly unauthorized use of
methods allowing access to system information as well as a stack
overflow with the potential for malicious code execution in the
context of the users browser.
The impact of this threat is considerably lessened as it requires
interactive user involvement as well as an attackers successful
spoofing of a trusted domain website in any attempt to compromise the
targeted system. The ActiveX control identified is restricted to
specific trusted websites in which it can be scripted. To exploit
successfully, an attacker would need to be able to effectively
masquerade as the authorized site and entice a user to click on their
specific URL for the malicious code to successfully impact the
customers system.
Symantec Response
Symantec product engineers have developed and released solutions for
this issue through Symantec's LiveUpdate and other venues.
Symantec users who normally run regular manual LiveUpdates will
already be protected. However, to ensure all available patches have
been properly applied to Symantec products, users should run a manual
LiveUpdate as follows:
* Open any installed Symantec consumer product identified above
* Click on LiveUpdate in the toolbar
* Run LiveUpdate until all available Symantec product updates are
downloaded and installed
Symantec product engineers have upgraded the current vulnerable
component on the Symantec support website so users will be able to
download a non-vulnerable version of the Automated Support Assistant.
Customers who may have previously downloaded the support tool or users
who have installed the consumer products identified above can go to
the support site,
https://www-secure.symantec.com/techsupp/asa/install.jsp and
download a new version of the Automated Support Assistant. By
downloading a new version, the legacy tool will be replaced by an
updated, non-vulnerable version.
Symantec recommends all customers apply all updates to protect against
threats of this nature.
Symantec knows of no exploitation of or adverse customer impact from
these issues.
Mitigation
Symantec Security Response has also developed a removal tool to assist
in removing legacy versions of the at risk control. The removal tool
is located here
(http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/security_response/removaltools.jsp).
IDS signatures have been developed to detect and block any attempts to
exploit this issue.
Customers using Symantec Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal
Firewall will receive signature updates if they run LiveUpdate
automatically. If not, Symantec recommends customers manually run
Symantec LiveUpdate regularly to ensure they have the most current
protection available. Internet zone settings for the local user may
prohibit activation of ActiveX controls without their consent. An
attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the
same user rights as the local user. Users whose accounts are
configured to have fewer user rights on the system would be less
impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights in the
event of any attempted compromise.
As always, if previously unknown malicious code were to be distributed
in this manner, Symantec Security Response will quickly react and send
updated definitions via LiveUpdate to detect and block any new threat.
Best Practices
As part of normal best practices, Symantec strongly recommends a
multi-layered approach to security:
* Run under the principle of least privilege where possible.
* Keep all operating systems and applications updated with the
latest vendor patches.
* Users, at a minimum, should run both a personal firewall and
antivirus application with current updates to provide multiple
points of detection and protection to both inbound and outbound
threats.
* Users should be cautious of mysterious attachments and executables
delivered via email and be cautious of browsing unknown/untrusted
websites or opening unknown/untrusted URL links.
* Do not open unidentified attachments or executables from unknown
sources or that you didn't request or were unaware of.
* Always err on the side of caution. Even if the sender is known,
the source address may be spoofed.
* If in doubt, contact the sender to confirm they sent it and why
before opening the attachment. If still in doubt, delete the
attachment without opening it.
CVE
A CVE Candidate name will be requested from the Common Vulnerabilities
and Exposures (CVE) initiative for this issue. This advisory will be
revised accordingly upon receipt of the CVE Candidate name. This issue
is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list
(http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for security
problems.
Credit
Symantec thanks John Heasman of Next Generation Security Research for
reporting this finding to us and for excellent coordination while
resolving this issue.
___________________________________________________________
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-Product-Vulnerability-Response Symantec Vulnerability
Response Policy Symantec Product Vulnerability Management PGP Key
Symantec Product Vulnerability Management PGP Key
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright (c) 2006 by Symantec Corp.
Permission to redistribute this alert electronically is granted as
long as it is not edited in any way unless authorized by Symantec
Security Response. Reprinting the whole or part of this alert in any
medium other than electronically requires permission from
secure@symantec.com.
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.
Symantec, Symantec products, Symantec Security Response, and
SymSecurity are registered trademarks of Symantec Corp. and/or
affiliated companies in the United States and other countries. All
other registered and unregistered trademarks represented in this
document are the sole property of their respective companies/owners.
Initial Post on: Thursday, 05-Oct-06 09:00:00
Last modified on: Thursday, 05-Oct-06 09:23:01
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