CVE-2007-3874 in Deployment Solution
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the tftp/mftp daemon in the PXE server component (pxemtftp.exe) in Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution 6.x before 6.8.380.0 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3874 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the PXE server component of Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution version 6.x prior to 6.8.380.0. This security weakness specifically affects the tftp/mftp daemon known as pxemtftp.exe which operates as part of the PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) server functionality. The flaw enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected system through unspecified attack vectors that exploit improper input validation mechanisms within the network service implementation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of file paths and directory references within the PXE server's TFTP/MFTP daemon. When processing file requests, the pxemtftp.exe service fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input parameters that specify file locations or paths. This allows malicious actors to craft specially formatted requests that can traverse directory structures and access files outside the intended service boundaries. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the inherent trust relationships within network protocols to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. According to CWE classification, this represents a directory traversal vulnerability categorized under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to access potentially sensitive system files, configuration data, and other resources that may contain credentials, system information, or proprietary data. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring local system access or authentication. This creates significant risk for organizations that deploy Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution in environments where network exposure is inevitable, particularly in scenarios where the PXE server is accessible to untrusted network segments. The vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers can leverage this weakness to gather intelligence about the target environment.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommended action involves upgrading to Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution version 6.8.380.0 or later, which includes patches specifically designed to address the directory traversal flaw. Network segmentation strategies should be employed to limit access to the PXE server component, particularly restricting access to trusted network segments only. Additionally, implementing network access controls and firewall rules to restrict TFTP and MFTP port communications can help reduce the attack surface. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns or suspicious network traffic originating from the PXE server component. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected components within their deployment environments and ensure proper input validation mechanisms are in place across all network services to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future.