CVE-2008-0309 in Symantec Antivirus Scan Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Symantec Decomposer, as used in certain Symantec antivirus products including Symantec Scan Engine 5.1.2 and other versions before 5.1.6.31, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a malformed RAR file to the Internet Content Adaptation Protocol (ICAP) port (1344/tcp).
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0309 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within Symantec Decomposer component, which serves as a core element in various Symantec antivirus solutions including the Scan Engine 5.1.2 and earlier versions. This security weakness specifically affects the processing of RAR archive files through the Internet Content Adaptation Protocol (ICAP) service operating on port 1344/tcp. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the decompression logic that fails to properly handle malformed RAR file structures, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the vulnerability remotely without requiring authentication.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper bounds checking during RAR file extraction processes within the Symantec Decomposer module. When a specially crafted malformed RAR file is transmitted to the ICAP service listening on TCP port 1344, the decompressor routine attempts to parse and extract file contents without sufficient validation of buffer boundaries. This allows an attacker to overflow the allocated stack memory space, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function pointers. The attack vector leverages the ICAP protocol's role in content filtering and scanning, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through standard network-based file inspection processes that organizations rely upon for security monitoring.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full remote code execution capabilities. Attackers can leverage this buffer overflow to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the Symantec Scan Engine process, potentially compromising the entire security infrastructure. The vulnerability affects not only the targeted Symantec products but also any system that utilizes the affected Scan Engine versions for network-based content filtering or email scanning operations. Organizations implementing ICAP-based security solutions become particularly vulnerable as they may unknowingly process malicious RAR files through their network security appliances, creating attack pathways that could lead to complete system compromise and lateral movement within the network environment.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions due to insufficient bounds checking. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell, as attackers can leverage the remote execution capability to establish persistent access or deploy additional malicious payloads. The attack surface is significantly expanded when considering that Symantec Scan Engine components are often deployed in enterprise environments where they serve as central points for content inspection, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for organizational security postures. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including patch deployment, network segmentation, and temporary disabling of ICAP services until proper security updates are applied.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch management with the release of Symantec Scan Engine 5.1.6.31 or later versions that contain the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow conditions. Network administrators should consider implementing firewall rules to block access to TCP port 1344 from untrusted networks and establish monitoring for suspicious RAR file processing activities. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Symantec products and ensure that proper input validation is implemented at multiple layers of their security infrastructure. The remediation process must also include thorough testing of updated configurations to prevent service disruptions while maintaining security effectiveness, particularly in environments where ICAP services are critical for content filtering operations.