CVE-2016-3647 in Endpoint Protection Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager (SEPM) 12.1 before RU6 MP5 allows remote authenticated users to conduct server-side request forgery (SSRF) attacks, and trigger network traffic to arbitrary intranet hosts, via a crafted request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2022
Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager version 12.1 before RU6 MP5 contains a critical server-side request forgery vulnerability that enables authenticated attackers to manipulate the application's request handling mechanisms. This vulnerability resides in the application's improper validation of user-supplied input within request parameters, allowing malicious actors to construct requests that bypass normal access controls and initiate connections to arbitrary internal network destinations. The flaw specifically affects the manager's ability to properly sanitize and validate URLs or hostnames submitted through authenticated API endpoints or administrative interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the SEPM's request processing pipeline where user-provided parameters are directly incorporated into subsequent network requests without adequate sanitization or destination verification. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted requests that contain malicious hostnames or IP addresses, which the application then attempts to resolve and connect to on behalf of the authenticated user. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and input validation, creating an attack surface where internal network resources become accessible through the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to perform reconnaissance activities against internal network infrastructure, potentially mapping internal systems, identifying vulnerable services, and establishing lateral movement capabilities. Network traffic generated through this vulnerability appears to originate from the SEPM server itself, making it difficult to distinguish from legitimate operations and potentially bypassing network security controls that rely on source address validation. This capability significantly increases the risk of internal network compromise and provides attackers with a persistent method for accessing sensitive internal resources that would normally be protected by network segmentation.
Organizations utilizing affected Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager versions face substantial risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where the application has elevated network privileges or access to sensitive internal systems. The vulnerability's remote nature and requirement for only authenticated access means that insiders or attackers who have obtained valid credentials can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to internal network resources. Security controls such as web application firewalls and network access controls may not effectively mitigate this attack vector due to the legitimate nature of the traffic generated by the vulnerable application.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability involves applying the official Symantec patches and updates released as part of RU6 MP5, which address the input validation deficiencies in the request handling components. Organizations should also implement network segmentation strategies to limit the exposure of the SEPM server to internal network resources and consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect anomalous network activity originating from the vulnerable application. Security teams should conduct comprehensive network audits to identify and isolate any systems that may be vulnerable to this attack vector, while also implementing proper logging and monitoring of administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-918, which describes server-side request forgery vulnerabilities, and represents a significant concern from an attacker's perspective as it provides persistent access to internal network resources through legitimate application behavior.