CVE-2016-2206 in Workspace Streaming
Summary
by MITRE
The management console in Symantec Workspace Streaming (SWS) 7.5.x before 7.5 SP1 HF9 and 7.6.0 before 7.6 HF5 and Symantec Workspace Virtualization (SWV) 7.5.x before 7.5 SP1 HF9 and 7.6.0 before 7.6 HF5 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files by modifying the file-download configuration file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2206 represents a critical path traversal flaw in Symantec's workspace streaming and virtualization products. This issue affects multiple versions of both SWS 7.5.x and SWV 7.5.x platforms, specifically before the release of service packs and hotfixes that addressed the vulnerability. The flaw exists within the management console component of these security solutions, which are designed to provide enterprise-level application streaming and virtualization services. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper access controls within the file download configuration mechanism, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass intended security boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on authenticated users who can manipulate the file-download configuration file to access arbitrary files on the underlying system. This represents a classic path traversal attack vector where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being used in file system operations. The flaw allows attackers to specify file paths that traverse directories beyond the intended scope, potentially accessing sensitive system files, configuration data, or other restricted resources. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authentication credentials rather than elevated privileges, making it accessible to any user with valid login credentials to the management console.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments relying on Symantec's workspace solutions. The ability to read arbitrary files could expose sensitive configuration data, system credentials, or application-specific information that could be leveraged for further attacks. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure, as attackers could potentially identify system configurations, network topologies, or other intelligence that could facilitate more sophisticated compromise attempts. Organizations using these products face potential data breaches, system integrity compromises, and possible lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability's location within the management console also means that successful exploitation could provide attackers with administrative capabilities to modify system configurations or access other restricted management functions.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2206 involve immediate deployment of the vendor-provided patches and hotfixes that address the path traversal vulnerability in the affected Symantec products. Organizations should ensure that all systems running SWS 7.5.x before 7.5 SP1 HF9 and 7.6.0 before 7.6 HF5, as well as SWV 7.5.x before 7.5 SP1 HF9 and 7.6.0 before 7.6 HF5, receive the appropriate updates. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit access to the management console to authorized personnel only, reducing the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring for unusual file access patterns or configuration modifications should be enabled to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and represents a significant concern for organizations implementing the affected Symantec solutions, as it directly impacts the security posture of their application streaming and virtualization environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, highlighting its potential for enabling more sophisticated attack vectors once initial access is achieved through the path traversal exploit.