CVE-2012-0306 in Ghost
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec Ghost Solution Suite 2.x through 2.5.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted backup file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0306 represents a critical security flaw within Symantec Ghost Solution Suite versions 2.0 through 2.5.1 that exposes systems to remote code execution and denial of service attacks through maliciously crafted backup files. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory handling mechanisms within the software's backup file processing functionality, creating an exploitable condition that adversaries can leverage from remote locations without requiring local system access or authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a memory corruption issue that occurs when the Ghost Solution Suite processes specially crafted backup files containing malformed data structures or oversized data elements. The flaw manifests as a buffer overflow or heap corruption condition that can be triggered during the parsing and decompression of backup archives, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code within the context of the running application. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The memory corruption typically occurs in the software's file parsing routines where insufficient bounds checking permits data to be written beyond allocated memory regions, potentially leading to code execution or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass significant business continuity risks and data integrity concerns. Organizations utilizing affected versions of Ghost Solution Suite face potential compromise of their backup infrastructure, which serves as a critical component of disaster recovery and business continuity planning. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to backup systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or complete service disruption. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target systems without physical access or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where backup servers may be exposed to network traffic. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute malicious commands through compromised backup systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0306 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with Symantec's official security updates and version upgrades to patched releases. Organizations must implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of backup systems to untrusted networks, while also establishing robust monitoring procedures to detect unusual backup file processing activities. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all systems running Ghost Solution Suite to identify potential exposure points and implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting backup file processing capabilities to trusted administrators can significantly reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.