CVE-2002-1117 in Backup Exec
Summary
by MITRE
Veritas Backup Exec 8.5 and earlier requires that the "RestrictAnonymous" registry key for Microsoft Exchange 2000 must be set to 0, which enables anonymous listing of the SAM database and shares.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1117 represents a critical security flaw in Veritas Backup Exec 8.5 and earlier versions that directly impacts Microsoft Exchange 2000 server configurations. This issue stems from the backup software's requirement for specific registry settings that inadvertently compromise the security posture of Exchange servers. The vulnerability operates through the manipulation of the "RestrictAnonymous" registry key, which serves as a fundamental security control in Windows operating systems. When this key is set to 0, it disables anonymous access restrictions that would normally prevent unauthorized enumeration of system resources. This misconfiguration creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the SAM database and share listings without proper authentication, fundamentally undermining the integrity of the Exchange server environment.
The technical flaw manifests in the backup execution process where Veritas Backup Exec 8.5 and earlier versions mandate that the RestrictAnonymous registry key must be set to zero for proper functionality. This requirement directly contradicts established security best practices and creates an inherent weakness in the system architecture. The SAM database contains critical security information including user accounts, passwords, and authentication credentials, making it a prime target for attackers. When anonymous access is permitted through the RestrictAnonymous key being set to zero, attackers can enumerate shares and access sensitive information stored within the SAM database. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-264 category of "Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls" and represents a classic example of improper privilege management that allows unauthorized access to critical system resources. The flaw essentially removes the security boundary that should exist between authenticated and anonymous users, creating an attack surface that violates fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond the immediate technical compromise, creating cascading security risks throughout the enterprise environment. When attackers can enumerate shares and access the SAM database through anonymous connections, they gain access to user account information, password hashes, and other sensitive data that can be leveraged for further attacks. This vulnerability enables credential harvesting attacks and can facilitate lateral movement within the network, as the stolen information can be used to authenticate to other systems. The attack surface expands significantly since the SAM database contains information about all users within the domain, potentially providing attackers with a comprehensive list of potential targets for additional exploitation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as credential access through credential dumping and privilege escalation by leveraging access to system databases. The impact is particularly severe because the vulnerability affects the core authentication infrastructure of Microsoft Exchange servers, which often serve as critical components in enterprise security architectures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1117 require immediate attention and systematic implementation across affected environments. Organizations must first identify all systems running Veritas Backup Exec 8.5 or earlier versions and assess their current registry configurations. The primary remediation involves either upgrading to a newer version of Veritas Backup Exec that does not require the problematic registry setting, or implementing compensating controls that maintain security while enabling backup functionality. Security administrators should carefully review the backup procedures and ensure that the backup software can operate with the RestrictAnonymous key set to its secure default value of 2, which prevents anonymous access to SAM database and share listings. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other backup solutions and ensure that security requirements are not compromised for operational convenience. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of security considerations in backup and recovery processes, where operational requirements should never override fundamental security principles. Organizations should also implement monitoring controls to detect unauthorized changes to critical registry settings and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing this type of authentication bypass vulnerability.