CVE-2009-3108 in Altiris Deployment Solution
Summary
by MITRE
The Aclient GUI in Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution 6.9.x before 6.9 SP3 Build 430 installs a client executable with insecure permissions (Everyone:Full Control), which allows local users to gain privileges by replacing the executable with a Trojan horse program.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3108 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution version 6.9.x prior to service pack 3 build 430. This issue specifically affects the Aclient GUI component responsible for managing client installations across enterprise environments. The vulnerability stems from improper access control implementation during the installation process, where the client executable is deployed with excessively permissive permissions that grant full control access to all users on the system. This configuration violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, creating a dangerous attack surface for local adversaries.
The technical flaw manifests through the insecure permission model applied to the installed client executable file. When the Aclient GUI performs its installation routine, it creates the target executable with permissions set to Everyone:Full Control, a configuration that provides unrestricted access to modify, replace, or execute the binary. This permission scheme directly maps to CWE-276, which categorizes improper file permissions as a security weakness that can lead to unauthorized modifications and privilege escalation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require any specialized tools or advanced techniques to exploit, making it accessible to any local user with basic system access. Attackers can simply replace the legitimate executable with a malicious Trojan horse program that maintains the same name and path structure, effectively creating a backdoor that executes with the privileges of the original process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can gain elevated privileges that may allow them to access sensitive system resources, modify critical configuration files, or establish persistent access mechanisms. The attack vector is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where multiple users may have local access to systems running the vulnerable Altiris Deployment Solution. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through the exploitation of insecure permissions, and represents a classic example of how improper access control can undermine entire security architectures. The implications are severe because the compromised system can be used as a foothold for further lateral movement within the network, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to corporate resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3108 should focus on immediate remediation through the application of Symantec's official patch or service pack 3 build 430, which addresses the insecure permission issue. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of existing installations to identify any remaining vulnerable systems and implement proper permission controls for all executable files. The recommended approach involves setting appropriate discretionary access control lists that limit write access to authorized administrators only, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards. Additionally, organizations should implement regular security assessments to detect similar permission misconfigurations across their infrastructure and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized executable modifications. Network segmentation and privilege separation measures should complement these technical controls to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.