CVE-2020-5828 in Endpoint Protection
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager (SEPM), prior to 14.2 RU2 MP1, may be susceptible to an out of bounds vulnerability, which is a type of issue that results in an existing application reading memory outside of the bounds of the memory that had been allocated to the program.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-5828 affects Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager version 14.2 RU2 MP1 and earlier releases, representing a critical out-of-bounds memory access flaw that could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability. This issue stems from improper bounds checking within the application's memory management mechanisms, specifically when processing certain input data structures. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and more broadly aligns with CWE-787, which encompasses out-of-bounds write operations that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The flaw exists in the SEPM's handling of memory allocation and access patterns, where the application fails to properly validate the boundaries of memory regions before reading or writing data, creating potential entry points for malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can be exploited to achieve remote code execution on affected systems. Attackers who successfully exploit this out-of-bounds read condition could potentially manipulate the application's memory layout, leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the SEPM service account. This presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where SEPM serves as a critical endpoint protection management platform, as compromise of the manager could provide attackers with elevated privileges to manage and control all protected endpoints within the organization. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because SEPM typically runs with elevated system privileges and maintains access to sensitive network data, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise networks. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078.004 for valid accounts, as exploitation could lead to unauthorized access and potential lateral movement within the network.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of Symantec's security patches, specifically version 14.2 RU2 MP1 or later releases. The patch addresses the underlying memory bounds checking issue by implementing proper validation of array indices and memory access operations within the SEPM application. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the SEPM server to untrusted networks, while monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized code and maintain comprehensive audit logs to track access to the SEPM management interface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management practices in enterprise security applications, as even minor flaws in memory handling can result in severe security implications. Organizations should also review their patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of security updates, as this vulnerability could be exploited by threat actors who maintain up-to-date threat intelligence on known vulnerabilities in security management platforms. The incident underscores the necessity of regular security assessments and code reviews, particularly for applications handling sensitive enterprise data and managing critical security functions.