CVE-2017-13682 in Encryption Desktop
Summary
by MITRE
In Symantec Encryption Desktop before SED 10.4.1 MP2HF1, a kernel memory leak is a type of resource leak that can occur when a computer program incorrectly manages memory allocations in such a way that memory which is no longer needed is not released. In object-oriented programming, a memory leak may happen when an object is stored in memory but cannot be accessed by the running code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13682 represents a critical kernel memory leak in Symantec Encryption Desktop software prior to version 10.4.1 MP2HF1. This memory management flaw occurs at the kernel level where allocated memory resources are not properly released back to the system after use, creating a persistent resource exhaustion condition that can degrade system performance and potentially enable further exploitation. The issue manifests when the encryption desktop software incorrectly handles memory allocation requests within its kernel components, leading to gradual accumulation of unreleased memory segments that persist throughout the system lifecycle. Such memory leaks are particularly dangerous in kernel space environments where they can affect system stability and create conditions that adversaries might exploit to gain unauthorized access or cause denial of service scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper memory management within the kernel modules of Symantec Encryption Desktop, specifically in how the software handles object allocation and deallocation processes. When the encryption software performs cryptographic operations or manages encryption keys, it allocates memory blocks to store temporary data structures, encryption parameters, and processing buffers. However, the flawed memory management logic fails to properly invoke deallocation routines, causing these memory segments to remain allocated indefinitely. This behavior aligns with CWE-401, which categorizes memory leaks as a common weakness in software development where allocated resources are not properly released. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level where memory management directly impacts system performance and stability.
From an operational perspective, this memory leak vulnerability can lead to significant performance degradation and system instability over time, as the accumulated unreleased memory consumes available system resources and reduces overall system efficiency. The gradual nature of memory consumption means that the impact may not be immediately apparent but will progressively worsen the system's ability to handle additional memory requests. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to cause denial of service conditions by triggering memory exhaustion, or they might leverage the instability to execute additional malicious payloads. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for privilege escalation attacks since kernel memory leaks can be manipulated to corrupt system memory structures, potentially allowing adversaries to gain elevated privileges within the system environment.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13682 primarily involve applying the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to Symantec Encryption Desktop version 10.4.1 MP2HF1, which contains the necessary memory management fixes to properly release allocated kernel resources. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of system memory usage patterns to detect early signs of memory exhaustion that might indicate this vulnerability's presence. Network security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for unusual memory consumption patterns or kernel-level anomalies that might suggest exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', indicates that adversaries might attempt to leverage memory leaks as part of broader exploitation campaigns. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar memory management issues in other kernel-level software components and ensure proper resource cleanup mechanisms are in place throughout their security infrastructure.