CVE-2010-0111 in AntiVirus
Summary
by MITRE
HDNLRSVC.EXE in the Intel Alert Handler service (aka Symantec Intel Handler service) in Intel Alert Management System (aka AMS or AMS2), as used in Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition (SAVCE) 10.x before 10.1 MR10, Symantec System Center (SSC) 10.x, and Symantec Quarantine Server 3.5 and 3.6, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary programs by sending msgsys.exe a UNC share pathname, which is used directly in a CreateProcessA (aka CreateProcess) call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0111 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Intel Alert Management System component of Symantec's security suite. This vulnerability specifically affects the HDNLRSVC.EXE service that operates as part of the Intel Alert Handler service, which is integral to Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition versions 10.x prior to 10.1 MR10, Symantec System Center 10.x, and Symantec Quarantine Server versions 3.5 and 3.6. The flaw exists in how the system processes network share paths, creating a dangerous condition where malicious actors can manipulate the execution flow of system processes through crafted network requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of UNC (Universal Naming Convention) share paths within the msgsys.exe component. When the Intel Alert Handler service receives a message containing a UNC path, it directly incorporates this path into a CreateProcessA function call without adequate validation or sanitization. This primitive function call, which is fundamental to process creation in windows operating systems, becomes a vector for arbitrary code execution when fed malicious input. The vulnerability manifests because the system fails to properly validate or escape the UNC path before using it in the process creation context, creating a classic command injection scenario.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to enterprise security infrastructure as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary programs with the privileges of the affected service account. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially provide attackers with complete system compromise capabilities, especially when the service runs with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from outside the network perimeter without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where security systems are designed to be protected from external threats. This flaw essentially turns the security monitoring and alert handling infrastructure into an attack vector rather than a defensive mechanism.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and represents a clear example of how unvalidated input can lead to arbitrary code execution. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through command and scripting interpreters and privilege escalation, as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the service account. Organizations using affected versions of Symantec's security products face significant risk of lateral movement within their networks, as the compromised service could be used to establish persistent access or to pivot to other systems. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it attractive to attackers of varying skill levels while providing substantial operational impact.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected Symantec products to version 10.1 MR10 or later, which addresses the UNC path validation issue. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the affected services, particularly preventing external access to ports used by the Intel Alert Handler service. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious UNC path usage patterns and establish privilege separation for the affected service accounts to limit potential damage from successful exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in security-critical components and the necessity of following secure coding practices that prevent command injection vulnerabilities in system services.