=======
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

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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

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Description

Inadequate file permissions on application binaries could result on local privilege escalation

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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.

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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&amp;pvid=security_advisory&amp;year=2012&amp;suid=20120124_00

NGS Secure Research
http://www.ngssecure.com