CVE-2009-3107 in Altiris Deployment Solution
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution 6.9.x before 6.9 SP3 Build 430 does not properly restrict access to the listening port for the DBManager service, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and modify tasks or the Altiris Database via a connection to this service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3107 affects Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution version 6.9.x prior to service pack 3 build 430, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw within the DBManager service component. This issue stems from inadequate access controls on a listening port that exposes sensitive administrative functionality to unauthorized remote actors. The DBManager service operates as a critical component within the Altiris ecosystem, managing database operations and task execution for deployment solutions across enterprise environments. The flaw manifests when the service fails to properly validate incoming connections on its designated listening port, allowing malicious actors to establish unauthorized sessions without proper authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the DBManager service maintaining an open network port that accepts connections without sufficient authentication mechanisms. This misconfiguration creates a pathway for remote attackers to directly interface with the database management functionality, bypassing the standard authentication protocols that should govern access to administrative operations. The flaw operates at the network level where the service listens for incoming connections on a specific port, typically configured as part of the deployment solution's communication infrastructure. Attackers can exploit this by establishing a connection to the vulnerable port and then leveraging the exposed database management capabilities to modify tasks or directly manipulate the Altiris database contents.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to perform destructive operations within the deployment environment. Remote adversaries can modify existing deployment tasks, potentially introducing malicious payloads or altering existing configurations to compromise system integrity. The ability to directly manipulate the Altiris database represents a severe threat to enterprise infrastructure, as this database contains critical deployment configurations, task definitions, and system settings that govern how software is deployed across networked environments. This vulnerability can facilitate lateral movement within networks, enable persistent access through compromised deployment configurations, and potentially allow attackers to establish backdoors within the enterprise's deployment infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, specifically focusing on inadequate privileges for accessing protected resources. The flaw demonstrates a classic example of insufficient authentication mechanisms where network-level access controls fail to properly validate user credentials before granting administrative functionality. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple techniques including T1078 for valid accounts usage and T1566 for credential harvesting through network service exploitation. The attack vector represents a network-based compromise that can be executed from external locations without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where deployment solutions are often exposed to external network boundaries.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch for Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution 6.9 SP3 Build 430, which addresses the authentication bypass issue through proper access control enforcement on the DBManager service port. Network segmentation strategies should be implemented to restrict access to the vulnerable service ports, limiting connectivity to trusted administrative networks only. Additionally, organizations should deploy network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized connections to the affected service ports and implement regular security audits to verify proper access control configurations. The recommended remediation approach includes disabling unnecessary network services, implementing proper firewall rules, and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar access control weaknesses within the broader deployment infrastructure.