CVE-2007-0564 in Web Security
Summary
by MITRE
The license registering interface in Symantec Web Security (SWS) before 3.0.1.85 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) by submitting a large file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0564 affects Symantec Web Security software version 3.0.1.85 and earlier, specifically targeting the license registering interface component. This issue represents a classic resource exhaustion attack vector that can severely impact system availability and operational continuity. The vulnerability resides within the software's license registration mechanism where improper input validation and processing logic fail to adequately handle large file submissions, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to disrupt normal service operations.
The technical flaw manifests when an attacker submits a large file through the license registration interface, causing the system to consume excessive cpu resources during processing. This occurs due to inadequate bounds checking and resource management within the license validation routine. The software fails to implement proper file size limitations or processing time constraints, allowing the malicious input to trigger intensive computational operations that consume disproportionate system resources. This behavior aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes the vulnerability as an unspecified resource exhaustion issue where the system becomes unresponsive due to excessive resource consumption.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security and availability concerns for organizations relying on Symantec Web Security solutions. The denial of service condition can render the license registration functionality completely unavailable, potentially preventing legitimate users from registering new licenses or updating existing ones. This disruption can cascade into broader service impacts, as the affected system may become unresponsive to legitimate requests or even crash entirely. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the software's defensive posture, as it allows attackers with minimal technical expertise to effectively disable a core administrative function through simple file submission attacks.
The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability follows established methodologies described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for network denial of service. Attackers can exploit this weakness by simply uploading large files through the web interface, requiring no special privileges or complex attack chains. The computational overhead generated by processing these oversized files can cause the system to become unresponsive, effectively creating a denial of service condition that impacts legitimate business operations. Organizations may experience service interruptions during critical business hours, potentially leading to revenue loss and operational disruption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing immediate defensive measures while planning for proper software updates. Organizations should deploy input validation controls to limit file size restrictions on the license registration interface, ensuring that any file submitted exceeds predetermined size thresholds. Network-level filtering and rate limiting mechanisms can help prevent excessive resource consumption by limiting the frequency and size of requests to the vulnerable interface. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to Symantec Web Security version 3.0.1.85 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved input validation and resource management controls. Additionally, implementing monitoring and alerting systems to detect unusual resource consumption patterns can help identify exploitation attempts and provide early warning of potential attacks.