CVE-2016-3649 in Endpoint Protection Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager (SEPM) 12.1 before RU6 MP5 allows remote authenticated administrators to enumerate administrator accounts via modified GET requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3649 affects Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager version 12.1 prior to RU6 MP5, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated administrators to perform unauthorized account enumeration activities. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the SEPM administrative interface, specifically when processing GET requests that target administrator account information. The vulnerability operates by allowing attackers who have already established administrative credentials to manipulate HTTP GET parameters in ways that reveal the existence of other administrator accounts within the system without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the weak validation of user input within the SEPM web application layer, where GET requests containing specific parameters can be modified to bypass normal access controls. When an authenticated administrator sends a modified GET request to the SEPM management interface, the system fails to properly validate the request parameters, allowing the attacker to enumerate additional administrator accounts through response variations that disclose account existence. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" and represents a specific instance of information disclosure through improper access control mechanisms. The flaw essentially creates a pathway for privilege escalation and reconnaissance activities that can significantly aid attackers in planning more sophisticated attacks against the endpoint protection infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable intelligence for targeting specific administrator accounts within the SEPM environment. This enumeration capability can be exploited to identify high-privilege accounts, understand the administrative structure, and potentially target accounts with elevated permissions for further compromise. The vulnerability affects organizations using Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager as their primary endpoint security solution, potentially exposing critical administrative infrastructure to unauthorized access attempts. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1087.001 for account discovery and T1566 for credential access, as it enables both reconnaissance and potential credential harvesting activities that could lead to complete system compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the vendor-provided security patches and updates for SEPM version 12.1 RU6 MP5, which address the improper input validation and access control flaws. System administrators should also review and strengthen their administrative access controls, implement additional monitoring for unusual GET request patterns, and consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive administrative functions. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of their endpoint protection management systems to identify similar flaws in other administrative interfaces and ensure that all systems maintain proper input validation and access control mechanisms to prevent unauthorized account enumeration and information disclosure activities.