Symantec Altiris Notification Server 6.0 ActiveX Control AeXNSConsoleUtilities.dll second memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Symantec Altiris Notification Server 6.0. It has been rated as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code in the library AeXNSConsoleUtilities.dll of the component ActiveX Control. This manipulation of the argument second causes memory corruption. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2009-3033. Additionally, an exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Symantec Altiris Notification Server 6.0. It has been declared as very critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown function in the library AeXNSConsoleUtilities.dll of the component ActiveX Control. The manipulation of the argument second with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is 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. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Buffer overflow in the RunCmd method in the Altiris eXpress NS Console Utilities ActiveX control in AeXNSConsoleUtilities.dll in the web console in Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution 6.9.x, Altiris Notification Server 6.0.x, and Management Platform 7.0.x allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long string in the second argument.

The weakness was released 11/24/2009 by Basti with VUPEN (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at kb.altiris.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2009-3033. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details and also a public exploit are known. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 11/17/2025).

A public exploit has been developed in Ruby. It is possible to download the exploit at securityfocus.com. It is declared as highly functional. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 42977 (Altiris ConsoleUtilities ActiveX RunCmd Method Overflow), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 116720 (Symantec Altiris ConsoleUtilities ActiveX Control "RunCmd()" Buffer Overflow Vulnerability).

A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (54415), Exploit-DB (16528), Tenable (42977), SecurityFocus (BID 37092†) and OSVDB (60496†). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.6

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

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

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Highly functional
Programming Language: 🔍
Download: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 42977
Nessus Name: Altiris ConsoleUtilities ActiveX RunCmd Method Overflow
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

Saint ID: exploit_info/symantec_aexnsconsoleutilities_runcmd
Saint Name: Symantec AeXNSConsoleUtilities RunCmd buffer overflow

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

MetaSploit ID: symantec_altirisdeployment_runcmd.rb
MetaSploit Name: Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution ActiveX Control Buffer Overflow
MetaSploit File: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍
Suricata ID: 2010369
Suricata Class: 🔍
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McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
Fortigate IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

08/31/2009 🔍
11/24/2009 +85 days 🔍
11/24/2009 +0 days 🔍
11/24/2009 +0 days 🔍
11/24/2009 +0 days 🔍
11/25/2009 +1 days 🔍
11/25/2009 +0 days 🔍
12/02/2009 +6 days 🔍
12/07/2009 +5 days 🔍
03/18/2015 +1927 days 🔍
11/17/2025 +3897 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: symantec.com

Advisory: kb.altiris.com
Researcher: Basti
Organization: VUPEN
Status: Not defined
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2009-3033 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2009-3033
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-50911
X-Force: 54415
SecurityFocus: 37092 - Multiple Symantec Altiris Products 'RunCmd()' ActiveX Control Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
OSVDB: 60496 - Symantec Altiris ConsoleUtilities ActiveX (AeXNSConsoleUtilities.dll) RunCmd Method Overflow
Vulnerability Center: 24270 - Multiple Symantec Altiris Products RunCmd Method Remote Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability, Medium

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 03/18/2015 15:15
Updated: 11/17/2025 08:26
Changes: 03/18/2015 15:15 (73), 02/17/2017 12:28 (13), 08/28/2021 05:36 (3), 03/12/2025 23:08 (20), 11/17/2025 08:26 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:A44:103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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