Symantec pcAnywhere Insecure File Permissions / Privilege Escalation

`=======  
Summary  
=======  
Name: Symantec pcAnywhere insecure file permissions local privilege escalation  
Release Date: 30 April 2012  
Reference: NGS00117  
Discoverer: Edward Torkington <[email protected]>  
Vendor: Symantec  
Vendor Reference:   
Systems Affected:  
  
Symantec pcAnywhere 12.5.x  
IT Management Suite 7.0 pcAnywhere Solution 12.5.x  
IT Management Suite 7.1 pcAnywhere Solution 12.6.x  
  
Risk: High  
Status: Fixed  
  
========  
TimeLine  
========  
Discovered: 23 August 2011  
Released: 14 September 2011  
Approved: 14 September 2011  
Reported: 23 August 2011  
Fixed: 24 January 2012  
Published: 30 April 2012  
  
===========  
Description  
===========  
  
Inadequate file permissions on application binaries could result on local privilege escalation  
  
=================  
Technical Details  
=================  
A number of key files in the C:\Program Files\Symantec\pcAnywhere\ folder are writable by any user:  
  
C:\Program Files\Symantec\pcAnywhere\WinAw32.exe Everyone:(OI)(CI)F  
NT  
AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)F  
  
C:\Program Files\Symantec\pcAnywhere\awrem32.exe Everyone:(OI)(CI)F  
NT  
AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)F  
  
C:\Program Files\Symantec\pcAnywhere\awhost32.exe Everyone:(OI)(CI)F  
NT  
AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)F  
  
It is trivial to replace these .exe (including the main pcanywhere exe, winaw32.exe with a malicious binary). When launched by the admin, privilege escalation would be gained. The awhost32.exe is set as a service under some scenarios (SYSTEM) and allows a user to privilege escalate by overwriting this binary.   
  
===============  
Fix Information  
===============  
  
An updated version of the software has been released to address these vulnerabilities:  
http://www.symantec.com/security_response/securityupdates/detail.jsp?fid=security_advisory&pvid=security_advisory&year=2012&suid=20120124_00  
  
  
NGS Secure Research  
http://www.ngssecure.com  
`