CVE-2015-8150 in Encryption Management Server
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec Encryption Management Server (SEMS) 3.3.2 before MP12 allows local users to obtain root access by modifying a batch file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2022
The Symantec Encryption Management Server version 3.3.2 before MP12 contains a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that enables local attackers to gain root access through manipulation of a batch file. This vulnerability represents a significant security flaw in the server's access control mechanisms, as it allows unauthorized local users to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative root access. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and inadequate file permission controls within the batch file processing functionality of the encryption management system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific flaw in how the system handles batch file modifications. Local users can manipulate batch files that are executed with elevated privileges, thereby creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-276 category of insecure file permissions, where files are created or modified with insufficient access controls. The batch file modification attack vector demonstrates a classic path traversal and privilege escalation technique that has been documented in numerous security assessments and penetration testing scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides complete system compromise for local attackers who can leverage the root access to perform unauthorized actions including data exfiltration, system modification, installation of backdoors, and complete destruction of the encryption management infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Symantec SEMS for their encryption management needs, potentially exposing sensitive encrypted data and compromising the integrity of their entire encryption ecosystem. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly and is particularly dangerous in environments where local system access is not strictly controlled.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the available security patches from Symantec, reviewing and hardening file permissions on batch files and related system components, and implementing least privilege access controls for local system users. Network segmentation and monitoring of local system access attempts can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploitation of system vulnerabilities, and T1547 which addresses registry and file permission manipulation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the system configuration and ensure that all security updates are properly deployed across the organization's infrastructure.