CVE-2017-15528 in Install Norton Security
Summary
by MITRE
Prior to v 7.6, the Install Norton Security (INS) product can be susceptible to a certificate spoofing vulnerability, which is a type of attack whereby a maliciously procured certificate binds the public key of an attacker to the domain name of the target.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15528 represents a critical certificate spoofing weakness within the Install Norton Security product line prior to version 7.6. This flaw falls under the broader category of trust exploitation attacks where adversaries manipulate digital certificate validation mechanisms to deceive users and systems into accepting fraudulent security credentials. The vulnerability specifically affects the certificate verification process during the installation and operation of Norton Security software, creating an avenue for man-in-the-middle attacks and credential theft operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate certificate validation procedures within the Norton Security installation framework. When the software attempts to verify digital certificates during installation or update processes, it fails to properly validate the certificate chain or perform sufficient cryptographic checks. This weakness allows attackers to obtain a legitimate-looking certificate through fraudulent means and subsequently bind it to target domains, effectively bypassing the normal security measures designed to prevent unauthorized certificate usage. The flaw operates at the application layer and affects the certificate validation logic that should normally ensure the authenticity and integrity of security certificates used by the software.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users and organizations deploying Norton Security products. Attackers could exploit this weakness to intercept encrypted communications, perform credential harvesting attacks, or execute malicious code through trusted certificate chains. The impact extends beyond individual user systems to potentially compromise entire network infrastructures where Norton Security is deployed as a corporate security solution. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability particularly affects environments where certificate-based authentication and encryption are critical components of the security posture, as it undermines the fundamental trust model that digital certificates are designed to establish.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to Norton Security version 7.6 or later, which contains the necessary certificate validation fixes. Additional protective measures include monitoring for suspicious certificate installations, implementing certificate pinning where possible, and conducting thorough security audits of installed certificates. The vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack technique known as credential harvesting and relates to CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation. Security teams should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous certificate behavior and establish baseline certificate trust relationships to identify potential spoofing attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security software versions and demonstrates how certificate validation weaknesses can create persistent security risks in enterprise environments.