CVE-2012-4953 in AntiVirus
Summary
by MITRE
The decomposer engine in Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) 11.0, Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition 12.0, Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition (SAVCE) 10.x, and Symantec Scan Engine (SSE) before 5.2.8 does not properly perform bounds checks of the contents of CAB archives, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4953 represents a critical flaw in Symantec's security infrastructure affecting multiple products including Endpoint Protection 11.0, Small Business Edition 12.0, AntiVirus Corporate Edition 10.x, and Scan Engine before version 5.2.8. This issue resides within the decomposer engine component responsible for processing CAB archive files, which are commonly used for software distribution and updates. The flaw manifests as insufficient bounds checking during archive extraction processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate archive contents and exploit the vulnerable system. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of software security and archive handling, where improper validation of file structures can lead to severe consequences including system compromise or service disruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the CAB archive processing logic. When the decomposer engine encounters a malformed CAB file, it fails to properly verify the boundaries and limits of archive contents before attempting extraction operations. This deficiency allows attackers to craft specially designed CAB files containing oversized or malformed data structures that exceed expected buffer sizes. The absence of proper bounds checking creates opportunities for buffer overflow conditions or memory corruption scenarios that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient bounds checking, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through software exploitation, potentially enabling initial access or lateral movement within compromised environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4953 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized code execution. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where security products are often deployed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects systems running Symantec's security solutions, which are typically deployed across critical network infrastructure, creating potential for widespread impact. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability can cause application crashes, system instability, and potentially provide attackers with execution capabilities that could lead to full system compromise. Organizations relying on these security products for endpoint protection face significant risk as the vulnerable components are integral to their security infrastructure, potentially creating a false sense of security while the underlying systems remain vulnerable.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4953 require immediate action from affected organizations to prevent exploitation attempts. The primary recommendation involves applying the official Symantec security patches and updates released for each affected product version, with particular emphasis on upgrading to Symantec Scan Engine 5.2.8 or later versions. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems, while also monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Symantec products and prioritize patch deployment accordingly. Additional protective measures include implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for known exploitation signatures and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in security software, particularly in components responsible for processing external data files, as these elements serve as primary attack vectors for sophisticated adversaries targeting enterprise security infrastructure.