Symantec Backup Exec 12.0 on Windows memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
9.4	$5k-$25k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Symantec Backup Exec 12.0 on Windows. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality. Performing a manipulation results in memory corruption. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2008-5408. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Symantec Backup Exec 12.0 on Windows (Backup Software). It has been classified as very critical. This affects an unknown functionality. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Buffer overflow in the data management protocol in Symantec Backup Exec for Windows Servers 11.0 (aka 11d) builds 6235 and 7170, 12.0 build 1364, and 12.5 build 2213 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors. NOTE: this can be exploited by unauthenticated remote attackers by leveraging CVE-2008-5407.

The weakness was published 12/10/2008 by Tenable Network Security with Tenable Network Security (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at securityfocus.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2008-5408 since 12/08/2008. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The successful exploitation needs a authentication. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 05/25/2025).

It is declared as proof-of-concept. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 116053 (Symantec Backup Exec Data Management Protocol Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (SYM08-021)).

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (46731), SecurityFocus (BID 32346†), Secunia (SA32810†), SecurityTracker (ID 1021246†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-20173†). Similar entry is available at VDB-45374. Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Backup Software

Vendor

Symantec

Name

Backup Exec

Version

12.0

License

commercial

Website

Vendor: https://www.symantec.com/

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.4

VulDB Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Temp Score: 9.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
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Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Proof-of-Concept

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

11/19/2008 🔍
11/19/2008 +0 days 🔍
11/20/2008 +1 days 🔍
11/20/2008 +0 days 🔍
12/08/2008 +18 days 🔍
12/08/2008 +0 days 🔍
12/10/2008 +2 days 🔍
12/10/2008 +0 days 🔍
03/17/2015 +2288 days 🔍
05/25/2025 +3722 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: symantec.com

Advisory: securityfocus.com⛔
Researcher: Tenable Network Security
Organization: Tenable Network Security
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2008-5408 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2008-5408
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-45375
X-Force: 46731
SecurityFocus: 32346 - Symantec Backup Exec Data Management Protocol Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Secunia: 32810 - Symantec Backup Exec for Windows Servers Multiple Vulnerabilities, Moderately Critical
SecurityTracker: 1021246 - Symantec Backup Exec Lets Remote Users Bypass Authentication and Execute Arbitrary Code on the Target System
Vulnerability Center: 20173 - Symantec Backup Exec for Windows Servers 11d, 12.5, 12.0 Data Management Protocol Buffer Overflow, Medium
Vupen: ADV-2008-3209

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/17/2015 16:11
Updated: 05/25/2025 03:31
Changes: 03/17/2015 16:11 (52), 06/07/2019 14:17 (20), 05/25/2025 03:31 (17)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103