CVE-2020-5820 in Endpoint Protection
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) and Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition (SEP SBE), prior to 14.2 RU2 MP1 and prior to 14.2.5569.2100 respectively, may be susceptible to a privilege escalation vulnerability, which is a type of issue whereby an attacker may attempt to compromise the software application to gain elevated access to resources that are normally protected from an application or user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-5820 affects Symantec Endpoint Protection and Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition products across multiple version ranges, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that undermines the security posture of endpoint protection solutions. This vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the software architecture, allowing unauthorized users to potentially elevate their privileges and gain access to protected system resources. The flaw exists in the privilege management subsystem of these security applications, which are designed to protect enterprise environments from various cyber threats while maintaining strict access controls. When exploited, this vulnerability creates a significant attack surface that could enable malicious actors to bypass the intended security boundaries of the endpoint protection platform.
The technical implementation of this privilege escalation vulnerability involves a failure in the authorization checks that should prevent non-privileged users from accessing administrative functions within the Symantec Endpoint Protection framework. The flaw likely manifests through improper validation of user credentials or insufficient privilege separation between different operational modes of the security software. Attackers could potentially leverage this weakness to execute malicious code with elevated privileges, access sensitive system files, modify security policies, or disable protective measures. This type of vulnerability directly relates to CWE-276, which describes improper privilege management, and represents a classic example of how security controls can be circumvented through inadequate access control implementation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core protection mechanisms of the software, potentially allowing attackers to undermine the very security features that are meant to protect the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-5820 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the endpoint security ecosystem. Organizations utilizing affected versions of Symantec Endpoint Protection may experience complete loss of control over their security infrastructure, as attackers could potentially gain access to administrative functions that control threat detection, firewall rules, and other critical security parameters. This vulnerability could enable attackers to disable security features, modify threat definitions, or create backdoors within the protected environment. The exploitation of this flaw could lead to persistent access, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network, as the attacker would be able to operate with elevated privileges that bypass normal security controls. The attack vector for this vulnerability typically involves local exploitation, requiring an attacker to already have access to the target system, though the privilege escalation could occur through various attack paths including social engineering or initial compromise via other vulnerabilities.
Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures to address this vulnerability by upgrading to the patched versions of Symantec Endpoint Protection and Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition, specifically versions 14.2 RU2 MP1 and 14.2.5569.2100 respectively. The patch addresses the underlying privilege management issues by implementing proper access control validation and strengthening the authorization mechanisms within the software. Security administrators should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor for unusual system behavior that might indicate successful exploitation. Additionally, implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unauthorized privilege escalation attempts, and maintaining comprehensive audit logs can provide additional layers of protection against potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include validation testing to ensure that the patches have been properly applied without introducing compatibility issues with existing security policies or operational procedures. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of this vulnerability and maintain awareness of related threats that may target similar privilege escalation flaws within other security software solutions.