CVE-2011-0554 in IM Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The management console in Symantec IM Manager before 8.4.18 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, related to a "code injection issue."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0554 represents a critical code injection flaw within Symantec IM Manager's management console component. This security weakness affects versions prior to 8.4.18 and enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the console's code processing pathways, creating an environment where malicious inputs can be interpreted and executed as legitimate commands. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from improper handling of user-supplied data that flows into system execution contexts without proper security controls.
The technical nature of this flaw places it squarely within the category of code injection vulnerabilities, which are systematically catalogued under CWE-94 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. This weakness allows attackers to inject code that gets executed in the context of the vulnerable application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability may be exploitable through multiple attack pathways including but not limited to form submissions, API endpoints, or configuration parameter inputs. The management console serves as a privileged interface for system administration, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous as it could provide attackers with elevated privileges and full control over the affected infrastructure.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Symantec IM Manager for their security operations. Remote code execution capabilities allow attackers to bypass traditional network security controls and directly compromise systems without requiring physical access or additional authentication. The attack surface extends beyond individual compromised systems to potentially affect entire network infrastructures, especially when the management console serves as a central point for multiple security operations. Organizations may experience data breaches, system downtime, and regulatory compliance violations as a result of successful exploitation. The vulnerability also represents a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors who seek long-term access to network environments through the management console.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0554 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Symantec IM Manager installations to version 8.4.18 or later. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate the management console from critical production systems, limiting the potential blast radius of successful attacks. Input validation controls should be strengthened throughout the application's interfaces to prevent malicious code injection attempts, implementing proper sanitization and encoding mechanisms. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the security infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Execution and Persistence tactics, particularly focusing on the use of remote code execution capabilities to establish footholds within target environments. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns consistent with code injection attacks, providing additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts.