CVE-2006-1286 in Norton Ghost
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the login dialog in dbisqlc.exe in SQLAnywhere for Symantec Ghost 8.0 and 8.2, as used in Symantec Ghost Solutions Suite (SGSS) 1.0, might allow local users to read certain sensitive information from the database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1286 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the database connectivity component of Symantec Ghost Solutions Suite version 1.0. This flaw specifically affects the dbisqlc.exe executable which handles login dialog functionality for SQL Anywhere database connections. The issue manifests when the application processes user input during authentication attempts, creating an exploitable condition that could potentially allow local attackers to access sensitive database information through memory corruption techniques.
This buffer overflow vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the login dialog implementation. The flaw occurs when user-supplied data exceeds the allocated buffer space in the dbisqlc.exe process, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged to either crash the application or potentially extract sensitive data from adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability specifically impacts Symantec Ghost Solutions Suite 1.0 which incorporates SQL Anywhere 8.0 and 8.2 database components, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments that rely on ghost imaging solutions for system deployment and recovery operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as local users with minimal privileges could potentially exploit the buffer overflow to gain unauthorized access to database credentials, system configurations, or other sensitive information stored within the database connection context. This represents a significant security risk for organizations using Symantec Ghost Solutions Suite, as the vulnerability could be exploited to compromise the integrity of imaging operations and potentially provide attackers with access to underlying database systems that may contain additional sensitive enterprise data.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities. The attack surface is limited to local users who have access to the system running the vulnerable software, but the potential for information disclosure makes this a critical concern for enterprise security. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability through Symantec's official security updates, as the buffer overflow could potentially be leveraged in combination with other attack vectors to escalate privileges or access additional system resources. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices, particularly in database connectivity components that handle user authentication and sensitive data processing.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Symantec's security patches, implementation of network segmentation to limit local access to systems running the vulnerable software, and enhanced monitoring for unusual database access patterns or authentication attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other instances of the affected software components and ensure that all database connectivity applications follow secure coding practices that prevent buffer overflow conditions through proper input validation and memory management techniques.