CVE-2005-2758 in AntiVirus Scan Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Integer signedness error in the administrative interface for Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine 4.0 and 4.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted HTTP headers with negative values, which lead to a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2758 represents a critical integer signedness error within the administrative interface of Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine versions 4.0 and 4.3. This flaw manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow that can be exploited by remote attackers through carefully crafted HTTP headers containing negative integer values. The issue stems from improper handling of signed integer values during the parsing of administrative requests, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution on affected systems. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based administrative interface component that manages scan engine configurations and operations, making it a significant target for attackers seeking to compromise endpoint security infrastructure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper validation and conversion of integer values within the HTTP header processing logic. When the administrative interface receives HTTP headers containing negative values, the system fails to properly validate these inputs, leading to incorrect buffer size calculations. This signedness error results in a situation where a negative integer value is interpreted as a positive buffer size, causing the application to allocate insufficient memory for buffer operations. The subsequent heap-based buffer overflow occurs when the system attempts to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory structures including return addresses and function pointers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine instances. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions, potentially leading to full system compromise or disruption of security operations. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the administrative interface is typically accessible over network connections, making exploitation possible from external networks without requiring local system access. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security posture of organizations relying on Symantec's endpoint protection solutions, as it allows attackers to bypass traditional network security controls and directly compromise security infrastructure components.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying available patches from Symantec, restricting access to the administrative interface through network segmentation, and implementing proper input validation controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-191, which describes integer underflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to memory corruption vulnerabilities. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for command execution. Network administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP header patterns and establish monitoring protocols for unauthorized administrative access attempts, as the vulnerability's exploitation may leave detectable traces in system logs and network traffic analysis.