CVE-2005-2766 in LiveUpdate
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.0.1.x and 9.0.4.x, and possibly other versions, when obtaining updates from an internal LiveUpdate server, stores sensitive information in cleartext in the Log.Liveupdate log file, which allows attackers to obtain the username and password to the internal LiveUpdate server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2021
This vulnerability exists in Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition versions 9.0.1.x and 9.0.4.x, as well as potentially other versions within the same release series. The flaw manifests when these security clients retrieve updates from an internal LiveUpdate server, creating a critical exposure in the system's authentication handling process. The vulnerability stems from the improper storage of sensitive authentication credentials within the Log.Liveupdate log file, which is written to disk in an unencrypted format. This design decision creates an inherent security weakness that directly violates established principles of secure credential handling and information protection. The issue represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture, as it exposes authentication tokens that should remain protected throughout the update process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the logging mechanism within the Symantec client software, where the authentication credentials required to access the internal LiveUpdate server are written to a log file without any form of encryption or access controls. This cleartext storage creates an attack surface that allows unauthorized users to gain access to the internal server authentication information simply by reading the log file. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in credential management and logging, where authentication data should never be stored in readable format on disk. Attackers can exploit this weakness by gaining local file system access to the affected system and simply reading the Log.Liveupdate file to extract the username and password.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations relying on Symantec's antivirus solutions. Once attackers obtain the credentials from the log file, they gain full access to the internal LiveUpdate server, which provides them with the ability to download and deploy malicious updates to any system within the organization. This creates a potential attack vector that allows adversaries to escalate their privileges and compromise the entire network infrastructure. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor into the organization's security update mechanism, enabling attackers to manipulate the antivirus software and potentially disable security protections. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the T1550.001 sub-technique for use of stolen credentials and T1078.002 for valid accounts. The exposure of LiveUpdate server credentials also enables lateral movement within the network and can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as persistent backdoor installation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including restricting file system access to the Log.Liveupdate file, implementing proper access controls, and considering the removal or encryption of sensitive log data. The recommended approach involves establishing secure logging practices that prevent cleartext credential storage and implementing monitoring for unauthorized access to sensitive log files. Security administrators should also consider upgrading to patched versions of Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition where available, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to the internal LiveUpdate server. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify other potential cleartext credential storage vulnerabilities within their systems, as this represents a broader pattern of insecure credential handling practices. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure credential management and the necessity of proper encryption and access control mechanisms in security applications.