CVE-2018-5237 in Endpoint Protection
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec Endpoint Protection prior to 14 RU1 MP1 or 12.1 RU6 MP10 could be susceptible to a privilege escalation vulnerability, which is a type of issue that allows a user to gain elevated access to resources that are normally protected at lower access levels.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5237 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Symantec Endpoint Protection software that affects versions prior to 14 RU1 MP1 and 12.1 RU6 MP10. This issue stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the endpoint protection framework, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to elevate their privileges and gain access to protected system resources. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within the software architecture, exploiting weaknesses in the privilege management system that should normally prevent standard users from accessing administrative functions.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of process permissions and access controls that govern how different user accounts interact with system resources. The flaw allows an attacker with minimal privileges to escalate their access level and potentially gain administrative rights within the protected environment. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-269, which specifically addresses improper privilege management, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege that security frameworks mandate. The vulnerability exists because the software fails to properly validate user permissions when executing privileged operations, creating a gap in the access control matrix that attackers can exploit.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5237 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable full system compromise and persistent access within affected environments. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, and potentially establish backdoors for continued access. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation,' and represents a common attack vector used by adversaries to move laterally within networks. The potential for this vulnerability to be leveraged in conjunction with other attack techniques makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where endpoint protection is critical.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches and updates that address the privilege escalation flaw in Symantec Endpoint Protection. The recommended mitigation strategy includes deploying the latest versions 14 RU1 MP1 or 12.1 RU6 MP10, which contain the necessary access control improvements and privilege validation mechanisms. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor system logs for suspicious privilege escalation activities. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and least privilege access controls can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while maintaining proper audit trails and monitoring capabilities ensures early detection of any unauthorized privilege elevation attempts.