CVE-2000-0793 in Norton Antivirus
Summary
by MITRE
Norton AntiVirus 5.00.01C with the Novell Netware client does not properly restart the auto-protection service after the first user has logged off of the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0793 represents a critical service management flaw within Norton AntiVirus 5.00.01C when operating in conjunction with Novell Netware client environments. This issue stems from the software's improper handling of auto-protection service lifecycle management, specifically during user session termination events. The flaw manifests when the first user logs off from a system that utilizes both Norton AntiVirus and Novell Netware client components, resulting in the auto-protection service failing to restart automatically. This behavior creates a significant security gap where the system remains vulnerable to malicious activities during the period when the antivirus protection is not actively monitoring the system.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of service restart mechanisms within the Norton AntiVirus client software. When the first user session terminates, the system should automatically reinstate the antivirus protection service to maintain continuous security coverage. However, the flawed implementation fails to execute proper service restart procedures, leaving the system in a potentially unprotected state. This issue specifically affects systems running Norton AntiVirus 5.00.01C in environments where Novell Netware client components are present, indicating a compatibility problem between the antivirus solution and the network client software. The vulnerability essentially creates a window of opportunity for attackers to exploit the system during the brief period when protection is suspended, as the service fails to resume its monitoring functions automatically.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple security gaps to potentially compromise entire network environments. When the auto-protection service fails to restart after user logoff, the system becomes vulnerable to malware infections, unauthorized access attempts, and other malicious activities that the antivirus software would normally detect and prevent. This issue is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where frequent logon and logoff activities occur, as the protection service may remain inactive for extended periods. The vulnerability essentially undermines the core functionality of the antivirus solution by creating a scenario where protection is not consistently available, thereby negating the security benefits that organizations expect from their antivirus implementations. Organizations relying on this specific version of Norton AntiVirus in Novell Netware environments face significant risk of security breaches during service downtime periods.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-665 Improper Initialization and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the compromised system state creates opportunities for attackers to execute malicious commands without detection. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics of CWE-755 Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions, as the software fails to properly handle the exceptional condition of user session termination. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to newer versions of Norton AntiVirus that address this service management issue, disabling automatic logoff features that trigger the vulnerability, or implementing additional network monitoring solutions to compensate for the protection gap. System administrators should also consider implementing manual service restart procedures as a temporary workaround until a permanent solution is deployed, ensuring that antivirus protection remains active throughout all user session transitions in affected environments.