CVE-2016-2202 in Altiris IT Management Suite
Summary
by MITRE
The Inventory Solution component in the Management Agent in the client in Symantec Altiris IT Management Suite (ITMS) through 7.6 HF7 allows local users to bypass intended application-blacklist restrictions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2202 resides within the Symantec Altiris IT Management Suite's Management Agent component, specifically affecting versions through 7.6 HF7. This issue represents a significant security weakness in the client-side inventory solution that governs application execution restrictions. The flaw enables local users to circumvent the intended application-blacklist mechanisms that are designed to prevent unauthorized software execution within managed environments. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically concerning improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to restricted resources. The affected system operates under the assumption that legitimate users cannot bypass security controls, creating an exploitable gap in the privilege model.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that allow local users to execute applications that should be restricted by the blacklist policies. This represents a privilege escalation scenario where local users can bypass the intended security controls that prevent execution of unauthorized applications. The flaw essentially undermines the core functionality of the application control mechanisms that are fundamental to enterprise security management. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a persistent risk where unauthorized software can be executed on managed endpoints, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or unauthorized access to sensitive corporate resources. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under privilege escalation techniques, specifically leveraging local access to bypass application control measures.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access points within the enterprise environment. Local users who can bypass the blacklist restrictions gain the ability to install malicious software, modify system configurations, or access restricted system resources. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on application control policies to maintain security compliance and prevent malware infections. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it requires only local user access, making it difficult to detect through network-based monitoring systems. Organizations using Symantec Altiris ITMS for endpoint management face significant risk exposure, as this flaw can be leveraged to circumvent security controls that are critical for maintaining enterprise security postures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of the vendor-provided security patches and updates for the Altiris IT Management Suite. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring of local user activities and application execution patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The security controls should be enhanced through configuration reviews to ensure proper application control policies are enforced. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reinforced to limit local user privileges where possible. Regular security assessments should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of application control mechanisms and ensure that no unauthorized applications can be executed within the managed environment. System administrators should also consider implementing additional logging and alerting mechanisms to detect when application blacklist restrictions are bypassed, providing visibility into potential security incidents.