CVE-2006-0231 in Antivirus Scan Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec Scan Engine 5.0.0.24, and possibly other versions before 5.1.0.7, uses the same private DSA key for each installation, which allows remote attackers to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks and decrypt communications.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0231 affects Symantec Scan Engine versions 5.0.0.24 and potentially earlier versions before 5.1.0.7, representing a critical weakness in the cryptographic implementation of the security software. This flaw stems from the improper use of cryptographic keys where the same private DSA key is deployed across multiple installations, creating a fundamental security risk that undermines the integrity of encrypted communications. The issue falls under the category of weak cryptographic key management as classified by CWE-327, which specifically addresses the use of weak or predictable cryptographic keys that can be exploited by adversaries to compromise security mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against the Symantec Scan Engine communications, effectively allowing them to intercept, modify, or decrypt sensitive data transmitted between the security engine and its communicating parties. This occurs because the identical private key across installations means that if an attacker can obtain the private key through any single compromised installation, they gain the ability to decrypt communications across all affected systems. The vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of network communications, as the cryptographic protection mechanisms fail to provide unique identification and encryption for each installation, creating a single point of failure that compromises the entire security infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple communication interception, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that security software is designed to establish. Organizations using affected Symantec Scan Engine versions face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive data, potential compromise of security policies, and the ability for attackers to manipulate security decisions made by the engine. This vulnerability affects the core security posture of systems that rely on Symantec Scan Engine for malware detection and network monitoring, as the cryptographic weaknesses create opportunities for attackers to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to protected environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through updating to Symantec Scan Engine version 5.1.0.7 or later, which addresses the key distribution issue by implementing unique cryptographic keys for each installation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional network security controls such as certificate pinning, network segmentation, and enhanced monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper key management practices and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for Unsecured Credentials, highlighting how poor cryptographic implementation can create persistent security weaknesses that enable long-term unauthorized access. Security administrators should also perform comprehensive audits of their cryptographic implementations to ensure that similar issues do not exist in other security components, as this vulnerability represents a classic example of how insufficient key management can create systemic security risks across entire deployments.