CVE-2007-5829 in Norton_internet_security
Summary
by MITRE
The Disk Mount scanner in Symantec AntiVirus for Macintosh 9.x and 10.x, Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh 10.0 and 10.1, and Norton Internet Security for Macintosh 3.x, uses a directory with weak permissions (group writable), which allows local admin users to gain root privileges by replacing unspecified files, which are executed when a user with physical access inserts a disk and the "Show Progress During Mount Scans" option is enabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5829 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw affecting multiple Symantec and Norton security products for macOS platforms. This issue stems from improper permission settings on system directories utilized by the Disk Mount scanner component, creating a significant security weakness that can be exploited by local administrative users to achieve root-level access. The vulnerability specifically impacts Symantec AntiVirus for Macintosh versions 9.x and 10.x, Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh versions 10.0 and 10.1, and Norton Internet Security for Macintosh version 3.x, indicating a widespread exposure across several generations of security software.
The technical flaw manifests through the use of a directory with group-writable permissions, which violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control. When a user with physical access inserts a disk and the "Show Progress During Mount Scans" option is enabled, the system executes unspecified files located within this vulnerable directory. This creates a race condition and attack surface where an administrative user can replace legitimate system files with malicious counterparts, effectively compromising the integrity of the security software and enabling unauthorized privilege escalation. The vulnerability operates under the principle of privilege escalation through file replacement, which aligns with CWE-276, specifically focusing on improper file permissions that allow unauthorized modification of system-critical components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of systems running affected software versions. Local administrative users who exploit this vulnerability can effectively bypass the security controls provided by the antivirus software, potentially gaining complete system control and access to sensitive data. The attack vector requires physical access to the system and administrative privileges, but once exploited, the consequences are severe enough to warrant immediate remediation. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where multiple administrative accounts may exist, creating additional attack surfaces that adversaries could leverage for persistent access or lateral movement.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insecure file handling combined with inadequate permission management, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for privilege escalation and T1548 for abuse of privileges. Organizations running affected software versions should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the security software, reviewing and correcting directory permissions on affected systems, and implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized file modifications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper permission management in security software components and the need for regular security assessments to identify similar weaknesses in system architecture. Organizations should also consider implementing additional controls such as file integrity monitoring and access control lists to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical system directories. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that security software itself can contain flaws that undermine its protective capabilities, requiring continuous vigilance and regular updates to maintain effective defense mechanisms.