CVE-2014-3440 in Data Center Security
Summary
by MITRE
The Agent Control Interface in the management server in Symantec Critical System Protection (SCSP) 5.2.9 before MP6 and Symantec Data Center Security: Server Advanced (SDCS:SA) 6.0.x before 6.0 MP1 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands by leveraging client-system access to upload a log file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3440 represents a critical command execution flaw within Symantec's security management infrastructure. This issue affects Symantec Critical System Protection version 5.2.9 prior to MP6 and Symantec Data Center Security: Server Advanced version 6.0.x prior to 6.0 MP1, creating a significant attack surface that could allow adversaries to compromise entire security ecosystems. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the Agent Control Interface of the management server, which processes log file uploads from client systems without adequate sanitization or access controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a privilege escalation vector where authenticated users with client-system access can upload malicious log files that contain executable code. This flaw operates under the principle of insecure file handling and inadequate validation of user-supplied data, which aligns with common weakness patterns identified in CWE-22 and CWE-74. The vulnerability allows attackers to leverage their existing authenticated access to client systems and transform it into unauthorized command execution capabilities on the management server, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries between client and server components.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to enterprise security infrastructure as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the management server process. The impact extends beyond simple command execution to include potential data exfiltration, system compromise, and disruption of security monitoring capabilities. Security administrators who rely on these management servers for critical threat detection and response may find their entire security posture compromised, as attackers could potentially disable security features, modify logs, or establish persistent backdoors within the protected environment.
The attack scenario typically begins with an authenticated user gaining access to a client system within the protected network, followed by the upload of a specially crafted log file that exploits the command execution vulnerability. This attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection, and potentially T1078 for valid accounts usage. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches, restricting file upload capabilities, implementing stricter access controls for management interfaces, and monitoring for unusual log file upload patterns. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege configurations can also help reduce the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in environments where patching may be delayed or complex.