CVE-2016-3652 in Endpoint Protection Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in management scripts in Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager (SEPM) 12.1 before RU6 MP5 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3652 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager version 12.1 prior to RU6 MP5 releases. This security flaw affects the management scripts within the SEPM platform, creating a significant attack surface for authenticated remote adversaries who can leverage these vulnerabilities to execute malicious web scripts or HTML content. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the management interfaces, allowing attackers to inject malicious code that persists in the application's response to user requests. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly integrated into web pages without adequate sanitization or encoding measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers with valid authentication credentials to manipulate the SEPM management console and potentially escalate their privileges within the security infrastructure. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users who access the compromised management interface, leading to potential data exfiltration, system compromise, or further lateral movement within the network environment. The authenticated nature of the attack means that adversaries must first obtain legitimate credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this vulnerability to undermine the security posture of the entire endpoint protection infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of security management operations, potentially allowing attackers to modify security policies, view sensitive configuration data, or redirect users to malicious sites.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which encompasses social engineering and credential access methods. The attack vector typically involves an authenticated user accessing management interfaces, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where administrators frequently interact with security management consoles. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Symantec's security patches and updates, specifically RU6 MP5 or later versions that address these XSS vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and monitoring of management interfaces can provide additional layers of defense, though these measures do not eliminate the underlying vulnerability. The incident response implications include the need to review and rotate administrative credentials, implement stricter access controls, and enhance monitoring of management console activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of management interfaces and input validation mechanisms should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other security infrastructure components.