CVE-2008-2288 in Altiris Deployment Solution
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution 6.8.x and 6.9.x before 6.9.176 has insufficient access control for deletion and modification of registry keys, which allows local users to cause a denial of service or obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2288 affects Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution versions 6.8.x and 6.9.x prior to 6.9.176, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of enterprise deployment management systems. This issue stems from inadequate privilege validation mechanisms within the registry key management functionality, creating a pathway for local attackers to exploit the system's security controls. The vulnerability specifically targets the deletion and modification capabilities of registry keys, which are fundamental components of Windows operating systems that store configuration settings and system preferences.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure to properly validate user privileges when attempting registry key operations, allowing unauthorized local users to manipulate system registry entries that should be protected by appropriate access controls. This insufficient access control vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 category, which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms and privilege escalation opportunities. The registry key modifications can be leveraged to alter critical system configurations, potentially leading to system instability or complete system compromise depending on the scope of accessible registry entries.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution for enterprise system management and deployment operations. Local users who can exploit this vulnerability can cause denial of service conditions by deleting or modifying critical registry keys that govern system behavior, potentially rendering affected systems unstable or non-functional. Additionally, the ability to obtain sensitive information through registry key manipulation represents a serious privacy and security concern, as registry entries often contain system configurations, user credentials, or other confidential data that could be extracted by malicious users.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that it requires only local system access, making it accessible to users who already have some level of system interaction. This local privilege escalation opportunity aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through improper access control mechanisms. Organizations using affected versions of Altiris Deployment Solution face risks of unauthorized system modifications that could disrupt business operations, compromise system integrity, and potentially provide attackers with additional footholds within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application to versions 6.9.176 or later, which contain the necessary access control fixes. System administrators should also implement comprehensive monitoring of registry key modifications and establish privileged access controls to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege enforcement can help reduce the potential damage from local exploitation attempts. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected versions and ensure proper access controls are implemented for registry operations, particularly for critical system keys that govern deployment and management functions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining proper access control mechanisms in enterprise deployment solutions where system integrity and configuration management are paramount to organizational security posture.