CVE-2009-1517 in Norton Ghost
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple insecure method vulnerabilities in the Symantec.EasySetup.1 ActiveX control in EasySetupInt.dll 14.0.4.30167 in the EasySetup wizard in Symantec Norton Ghost 14.0 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (browser crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified input to the (1) GetBackupLocationPath, (2) CallUninstall, (3) SetupDeleteVolume, (4) CanUseEasySetup, (5) CallAddInitialProtection, and (6) CallTour methods.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1517 represents a critical security flaw within Symantec Norton Ghost 14.0's EasySetup wizard component, specifically affecting the Symantec.EasySetup.1 ActiveX control in EasySetupInt.dll version 14.0.4.30167. This issue manifests as multiple insecure method vulnerabilities that expose the system to remote exploitation through browser-based attacks. The vulnerability affects several methods within the ActiveX control including GetBackupLocationPath, CallUninstall, SetupDeleteVolume, CanUseEasySetup, CallAddInitialProtection, and CallTour, all of which process unspecified input without proper validation mechanisms. These methods form part of the installation and configuration wizard that users interact with during the Ghost setup process, making them prime targets for malicious exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the ActiveX control's method implementations. When these methods receive malformed or malicious input, they fail to properly handle the data, leading to potential buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other exploitable conditions. The ActiveX control operates within the browser context, which means that remote attackers can leverage web-based attack vectors to trigger these vulnerable methods simply by visiting compromised websites or downloading malicious content that invokes the control. This architectural design places the entire system at risk since ActiveX controls are inherently trusted by the browser environment and execute with elevated privileges.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations and individual users who may inadvertently encounter malicious web content or have their systems compromised through social engineering attacks. The potential for denial of service through browser crashes represents immediate operational disruption, while the possibility of arbitrary code execution introduces far more severe consequences including complete system compromise, data theft, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability's presence in the EasySetup wizard means that even legitimate installation processes could be exploited, as the control is designed to be invoked during normal software setup procedures. This makes the attack surface particularly broad and difficult to defend against, as users must trust the installation process and may not be aware of the underlying security risks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within a Memory Buffer and CWE-74 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component, both of which are commonly exploited in ActiveX control security breaches. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage the ActiveX control to execute arbitrary code on target systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling ActiveX controls in browser environments, applying the latest Symantec security patches, and deploying network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious ActiveX control invocations. Additionally, user education about avoiding untrusted websites and malicious downloads remains critical, as the vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering tactics that trick users into interacting with compromised web content. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks of legacy ActiveX controls in modern security environments and underscores the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes.