MalwareTeks Blog

SYM07- 021
August 09, 2007
Symantec ActiveX Control Input Validation Error

Revision History
None

Risk Impact
High

Remote Access	Yes
Local Access	Yes
Authentication Required	No
Exploit available	No

Overview
An input validation error in two ActiveX controls used by Norton AntiVirus, Norton Internet Security, and Norton System Works could allow an attacker to execute code on the target system.

Affected Products

Product	Version	Solution
Norton AntiVirus	2006	Run LiveUpdate in Interactive Mode
Norton Internet Security	2006	Run LiveUpdate in Interactive Mode
Norton Internet Security, Anti Spyware Edition	2005	Run LiveUpdate in Interactive Mode
Norton System Works	2006	Run LiveUpdate in Interactive Mode

Unaffected Products

Product	Version
Norton 360	All
Norton AntiBot	All
Norton AntiVirus	2007 and later
Norton Confidential	All
Norton Internet Security	2007 and later
Norton System Works	2007 and later
Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition	All
Symantec AntiVirus for Linux	All
Symantec Client Security	All

Details
Symantec was notified that two ActiveX controls supplied by NAVCOMUI.DLL contain an input validation error for two properties of the controls. This error could allow an attacker to crash Internet Explorer, or possibly run arbitrary code with the rights of the logged in user.

Symantec response
Symantec engineers have confirmed that the vulnerability in the products listed in the Affected Products table above. Updates for affected products are available through LiveUpdate.

No versions of Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition or Symantec Client Security are affected by this vulnerability.

To successfully exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to entice the user to view a specially crafted HTML document. This type of attack is often achieved by sending email containing a link to the malicious site, and persuading the recipient to click on the link.

Symantec is not aware of any customers impacted by this issue, or of any attempts to exploit the issue.

Mitigation
Symantec Security Response has released Bloodhound.Exploit.148 to detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. This detection is available in virus definitions dated 08-09-2007 and later.

In addition, Symantec has released an IPS signature to detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. The signature, HTTP Symantec NAV NavComUI ActiveX BO, is available in signatures dated 08-09-2007 and later.

Virus definitions and IPS signatures are both available through LiveUpdate

How to Obtain the Update
Symantec Norton product users who regularly launch and run LiveUpdate should already have received an updated (non-vulnerable) version of NAVCOMUI.DLL.
However, to ensure all available updates have been applied, users can manually launch and run LiveUpdate in Interactive mode as follows:

• Open any installed Norton product
• Click on LiveUpdate in the GUI
• Run LiveUpdate until all available product updates are downloaded and installed

Best Practices
Symantec recommends any affected customers update their product immediately to protect against potential attempts to exploit this vulnerability. As part of normal best practices, Symantec recommends the following:

• Run under the principle of least privilege to limit the impact of exploits.
• Keep all operating systems and applications updated with the latest vendor patches.
• Follow a multi-layered approach to security. Run both firewall and antivirus software to provide multiple points of detection and protection from inbound and outbound threats.
• Keep anti-virus definitions and IPS (firewall) signatures up to date.

Credit
Symantec would like to thank Carsten Eiram, Secunia Research for reporting this issue and coordinating with us on the response.

References
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) initiative has assigned CVE Candidate CVE-2007-2955 to this issue.
This issue is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for security problems.

SecurityFocus (http://www.securityfocus.com) has assigned Bugtraq ID (BID) 24983 to this issue

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Symantec takes the security and proper functionality of its products very seriously. As founding members of the Organization for Internet Safety (OISafety), Symantec follows the principles of responsible disclosure. Symantec also subscribes to the vulnerability guidelines outlined by the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). Please contact secure@symantec.com if you feel you have discovered a potential or actual security issue with a Symantec product. A Symantec Product Security team member will contact you regarding your submission.

Symantec has developed a Product Vulnerability Handling Process document outlining the process we follow in addressing suspected vulnerabilities in our products. We support responsible disclosure of all vulnerability information in a timely manner to protect Symantec customers and the security of the Internet as a result of vulnerability. This document is available from the location provided below.

Symantec strongly recommends using encrypted email for reporting vulnerability information to secure@symantec.com. The Symantec Product Security PGP key can be obtained from the location provided below.

Symantec Vulnerability Response Policy

Symantec Product Vulnerability Management PGP Key

 

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Copyright (c) 2007 by Symantec Corp.
Permission to redistribute this alert electronically is granted as long as it is not edited in any way unless authorized by Symantec Security Response. Reprinting the whole or part of this alert in any medium other than electronically requires permission from secure@symantec.com.

Disclaimer
The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.

Symantec, Symantec products, Symantec Security Response, and secure@symantec.com are registered trademarks of Symantec Corp. and/or affiliated companies in the United States and other countries. All other registered and unregistered trademarks represented in this document are the sole property of their respective companies/owners.

Initial Post on: Thursday, 09-Aug-07 08:42:00
Last modified on: Thursday, 09-Aug-07 15:51:42