CVE-2007-2619 in pcAnywhere
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec pcAnywhere 11.5.x and 12.0.x retains unencrypted login credentials for the most recent login within process memory, which allows local administrators to obtain the credentials by reading process memory, a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-3785.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2619 represents a critical security flaw in Symantec pcAnywhere versions 11.5.x and 12.0.x that fundamentally compromises authentication security through improper credential handling. This issue manifests as a memory exposure vulnerability where the application stores unencrypted login credentials for the most recent user session directly within its process memory space. The flaw exists at the application level rather than being a network-based vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous as it requires only local system access to exploit. The vulnerability falls under CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1003.001 for OS credential dumping, as the credentials remain accessible in memory even after the user has logged out or the session has ended. This behavior creates a persistent security risk that extends beyond the typical session lifecycle of the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from pcAnywhere's design decision to cache authentication credentials in plaintext within the application's memory space for convenience purposes. When a user successfully authenticates, the system stores both the username and password in unencrypted format within the process memory, allowing the application to maintain session state and provide seamless reconnection capabilities. However, this convenience comes at a significant security cost, as the memory addresses containing these credentials remain accessible to any process running with sufficient privileges. The memory retention occurs at the kernel level within the application's virtual address space, where the credentials are stored in a format that can be directly read without requiring additional decryption or reverse engineering. This flaw is particularly concerning because it bypasses normal authentication mechanisms and provides direct access to valid credentials that can be used for privilege escalation or lateral movement within a network environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-2619 extends far beyond simple credential theft, creating substantial risk for organizations that rely on Symantec pcAnywhere for remote administration. Local administrators or attackers with sufficient privileges can utilize memory reading techniques to extract the cached credentials, potentially gaining unauthorized access to systems that were previously secured by legitimate authentication. This vulnerability enables attackers to perform credential dumping attacks with minimal technical expertise, as the credentials are stored in plain text format without any encryption or obfuscation. The risk is amplified when considering that pcAnywhere is often used in enterprise environments where administrators may have elevated privileges, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise. Organizations that have not patched this vulnerability remain at risk for persistent attacks, as the credentials remain accessible in memory even after the user has logged off or the application has been closed. The vulnerability also creates challenges for incident response teams, as traditional network-based monitoring tools may not detect the memory-based credential theft, making the attack harder to detect and investigate.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation to address the risks presented by CVE-2007-2619, beginning with immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions of Symantec pcAnywhere that address this specific vulnerability. System administrators should disable the credential caching feature within pcAnywhere if available, as this prevents the storage of credentials in memory altogether. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit local administrative access to systems running pcAnywhere, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Additionally, organizations should deploy memory monitoring tools and endpoint detection systems that can identify suspicious memory access patterns that may indicate credential dumping attempts. Regular security audits should include checks for the presence of unpatched pcAnywhere installations, and system administrators should implement monitoring for unusual local process activity that could indicate memory scanning operations. The remediation approach should also include user education about the risks of running administrative applications with elevated privileges and the importance of proper system access controls. Compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requires organizations to address such memory-based credential exposure vulnerabilities through comprehensive security controls that include both technical and administrative measures to protect against unauthorized access to sensitive authentication information.