CVE-2017-6330 in Encryption Desktop
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec Encryption Desktop before SED 10.4.1MP2 can allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource consumption) via crafted web requests."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2019
Symantec Encryption Desktop represents a comprehensive data protection solution designed to secure sensitive information through encryption and access control mechanisms. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6330 specifically targets the web interface component of this security software, which serves as a management portal for administrators to configure and monitor encryption policies. This web interface functionality allows users to interact with the encryption desktop application through HTTP requests, providing a convenient means to manage encryption settings and monitor system status. The affected version range includes all iterations prior to SED 10.4.1MP2, indicating that the flaw existed for an extended period within the product lifecycle.
The technical flaw manifests as a resource exhaustion vulnerability that occurs when the web interface processes crafted HTTP requests containing malformed parameters or unusual request patterns. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specifically designed web requests that trigger excessive resource consumption within the Symantec Encryption Desktop application. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and request processing mechanisms within the web server component, which fails to properly sanitize or limit the processing of incoming requests. This lack of proper request handling allows malicious actors to consume system resources such as memory, CPU cycles, or file descriptors through repeated or specially crafted requests that cause the application to allocate resources without proper cleanup or limits.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the availability of critical encryption services within enterprise environments. When exploited successfully, the denial of service condition can render the Symantec Encryption Desktop management interface inaccessible, preventing administrators from performing essential security tasks such as policy updates, key management, or system monitoring. Organizations relying on this encryption solution may experience operational disruptions that affect their overall security posture, as administrators lose the ability to manage encryption policies during critical security events. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where the web interface is exposed to untrusted networks or where automated scanning tools might inadvertently trigger the resource exhaustion condition, potentially leading to cascading failures in security infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of security patches provided by Symantec, specifically targeting the SED 10.4.1MP2 release or subsequent versions that contain the necessary fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the web interface component, restricting access to trusted administrative networks and implementing strict firewall rules that limit the types of requests that can reach the vulnerable interface. Additional protective measures include configuring rate limiting mechanisms on web servers, implementing request size limits, and establishing monitoring systems to detect unusual resource consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400 which addresses improper resource management, and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499 for network denial of service attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and block known malicious request patterns associated with this specific vulnerability, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other security infrastructure components.