CVE-2016-3646 in Endpoint Protection
Summary
by MITRE
The AntiVirus Decomposer engine in Symantec Advanced Threat Protection (ATP); Symantec Data Center Security:Server (SDCS:S) 6.x through 6.6 MP1; Symantec Web Gateway; Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) before 12.1 RU6 MP5; Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) for Mac; Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) for Linux before 12.1 RU6 MP5; Symantec Protection Engine (SPE) before 7.0.5 HF01, 7.5.x before 7.5.3 HF03, 7.5.4 before HF01, and 7.8.0 before HF01; Symantec Protection for SharePoint Servers (SPSS) 6.0.3 through 6.0.5 before 6.0.5 HF 1.5 and 6.0.6 before HF 1.6; Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange (SMSMSE) before 7.0_3966002 HF1.1 and 7.5.x before 7.5_3966008 VHF1.2; Symantec Mail Security for Domino (SMSDOM) before 8.0.9 HF1.1 and 8.1.x before 8.1.3 HF1.2; CSAPI before 10.0.4 HF01; Symantec Message Gateway (SMG) before 10.6.1-4; Symantec Message Gateway for Service Providers (SMG-SP) 10.5 before patch 254 and 10.6 before patch 253; Norton AntiVirus, Norton Security, Norton Internet Security, and Norton 360 before NGC 22.7; Norton Security for Mac before 13.0.2; Norton Power Eraser (NPE) before 5.1; and Norton Bootable Removal Tool (NBRT) before 2016.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory access violation) via a crafted ZIP archive that is mishandled during decompression.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3646 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the AntiVirus Decomposer engine of numerous Symantec security products. This issue affects a broad ecosystem of endpoint protection, email security, web gateway, and data center security solutions spanning multiple product lines and versions. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of crafted ZIP archives during the decompression process, creating a pathway for remote code execution or denial of service conditions. The affected software portfolio includes Symantec Advanced Threat Protection ATP, Symantec Data Center Security Server SDCS:S versions 6.x through 6.6 MP1, Symantec Web Gateway, various versions of Symantec Endpoint Protection for Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, Symantec Protection Engine across multiple release branches, Symantec Protection for SharePoint Servers, Symantec Mail Security products for Exchange and Domino, Symantec Message Gateway systems, Norton security suites, and several other specialized security tools.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the AntiVirus Decomposer engine processes a maliciously crafted ZIP archive that contains specially constructed files or directory structures. During decompression, the engine fails to properly validate or sanitize input data, leading to memory access violations that can be leveraged by remote attackers. This flaw operates at the decompression layer of the security software, where legitimate files are extracted and analyzed for potential threats. The improper memory handling manifests as buffer overflows, heap corruption, or other memory access violations that can be triggered by manipulating the archive structure, file names, or directory hierarchies within the ZIP file. The vulnerability specifically impacts the decompression logic that handles archive extraction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered during routine security scanning operations or when processing user-submitted files.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Symantec security solutions, as remote attackers can potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems without requiring authentication or physical access. The memory access violations can lead to system crashes, application instability, and complete system compromise depending on the execution environment and privileges available. The broad scope of affected products means that organizations with multiple Symantec security solutions in their infrastructure face cumulative risk exposure. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to endpoints, escalate privileges, or establish persistent backdoors within network environments. The vulnerability's remote attack surface makes it particularly concerning for organizations with internet-facing security appliances or endpoint protection systems that process files from untrusted sources.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates for all affected Symantec products, as outlined in the respective security bulletins and advisory documents. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected versions across their infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Network segmentation strategies should be implemented to limit potential attack vectors, particularly for internet-facing security appliances. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The mitigation approach should include regular vulnerability scanning, patch management processes, and security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Implementation of the vendor-recommended security updates should be prioritized across all affected systems, with particular attention to critical infrastructure components that process untrusted files or network traffic. Security teams should also consider implementing additional layers of protection such as application whitelisting, sandboxing mechanisms, and file reputation analysis to reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts.