CVE-2014-1646 in Encryption Desktop
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec PGP Desktop 10.0.x through 10.2.x and Encryption Desktop Professional 10.3.x before 10.3.2 MP1 do not properly perform memory copies, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (read access violation and application crash) via a malformed certificate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1646 affects Symantec PGP Desktop and Encryption Desktop Professional versions within specific ranges, representing a critical memory handling flaw that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks. This vulnerability resides in the certificate processing functionality of these cryptographic software implementations, where improper memory copy operations create exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by malicious actors to disrupt service availability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management during certificate parsing operations, specifically manifesting as insufficient bounds checking during memory copy procedures. When the affected software encounters a malformed certificate, the improper memory handling triggers a read access violation that results in application crashes and complete service disruption. This flaw aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication or specialized privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where these encryption tools are widely deployed.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Symantec PGP Desktop for email and file encryption services. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can potentially disrupt critical business operations without requiring physical access to target systems. The denial of service impact extends beyond simple application crashes, as the affected systems may become unavailable for legitimate cryptographic operations, potentially compromising data protection workflows and business continuity. The vulnerability affects organizations that depend on PGP encryption for secure communications, including financial institutions, government agencies, and healthcare organizations that require robust encryption solutions.
The attack vector for this vulnerability involves sending specially crafted malformed certificates to systems running the vulnerable PGP software versions. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a privilege escalation technique through application layer exploitation, specifically categorized under T1210 - Exploitation of Remote Services. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it operates without requiring user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in automated attack scenarios. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of broader security assessments targeting cryptographic software implementations, especially those handling sensitive data communications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1646 primarily involve immediate deployment of vendor-provided patches and updates to affected systems. Symantec released security updates addressing this vulnerability in PGP Desktop 10.3.2 MP1 and subsequent versions, which should be implemented across all affected environments. Network administrators should also consider implementing certificate validation controls and monitoring for anomalous certificate traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include restricting network access to PGP services where possible, implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and maintaining comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to ensure rapid restoration of services in case of successful attacks. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected software versions and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure.